This was a fun book and I really enjoyed the romantic escapism. The idea of your romantic hero following you out of a book? Well, that was the sort of plot I was looking for! Fun, original and entertaining, we follow Leigh and Killian’s relationship develop from fictional to reality. Can Leigh trust what she thought was a figment of her imagination?

Isley certainly appeals to book lovers with Leigh’s character: not only does she have a towering book stack (a bit like me); she runs a social media channel with her reviews (hello!); she also has a book stamp-embosser that she uses on the front pages of her books (oooh, better start looking online)… So when it comes to imaginary romances, Leigh has vivid ideas about what she likes and dislikes – which might explain why she is still single. Discovering an old book on her bookshelf, Leigh falls asleep dreaming of the hunky hero, Killian, where her dreams take her to Lakeville Hills as a modern cowgirl love interest.

Waking up back to reality, Leigh feels despondent about her lack of a love life, especially as all of her friends are coupled up and imparting supposedly useful advice, trying to set Leigh up with dates. When her dream lover follows her to reality, it is time for Leigh to write her own romantic story. I loved how unexpected this plot twist was and this led me to wonder whether Leigh and Killian would have a happy ever after. The dark, thriller reader in me was expecting something a bit more tragic than what Isley presents. If you are after a sweetness read then never fear with this one, there is no sadness at the end!

I enjoyed the concept of a book character coming to life, especially as Killian seems so perfect. Isley takes some romance genre cliches and applies these to the story, such as Leigh’s ridiculous clothes she wears in Lakeville as a baker. Killian is presented as a complete dream boat and I enjoyed how he had such appeal both in the fictional and real world. He is also a bit of a bookworm, a hero and one who wants to defend his love interest. With a “hot bod” and a desire to keep Leigh happy, what is there to dislike?

This is a pacy story and I liked the romance of Leigh’s tale. However, it was a bit far-fetched in places and the mascot/identity scenes were ones I really enjoyed the least. Whilst I understood Isley’s necessity of establishing Killian in the real world, I thought this could have been executed a little better. On the other hand, the idea of a character coming to life is beyond realistic, so you do have to go with the flow a bit!

A sweet romance where the hero is hunky and the heroine has more grit and determination than typical characters, it is a thought-provoking novel which leads to heavy debates: which hero would you like to see come alive from a book??

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As always Camilla has delivered a romantic comedy with all the right elements! It gave me all the feels. I mean, everyone who reads this genre has a book boyfriend that they wish would come to life, so this was a treat for my romantic heart!
Killian is dashing, sexy, gorgeous, swoon worthy and dark but sensitive. The fact that he manages to find a place in the real world while also firing off romantic lead tropes every which way was so fun to read. I especially loved it when he growled! I loved Leighton, she was fun, quirky and I related a lot to her book loving, Netflix watching antics!

Highly recommend this, as always Camilla is a firm favourite on my bookshelves!

I found this book silly and slow. It was so sweet it made my teeth ache. I found the characters shallow and silly. I didn't enjoy this one. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'It Started With A Book' by Camilla Isley.

This book has fantastic descriptions that set you straight in the scenes. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.

OMG!!! I absolutely LOVED this gorgeous page turner and I cannot WAIT to get stuck into more of this fantastic author's previous and future books! I absolutely adored 'It's Complicated' by Camilla and was a bit dubious whether this book would be as good as it but I had nothing at all to worry about as Camilla absolutely smashes it yet again with another fantastic page turner so a HUGE WELL done to Camilla who is obviously an extremely talented author. If you have never read any books by this brilliant author yet then start now by picking up this copy, I guarantee you wont regret it!! I absolutely adored the unique storyline which is hard to come by when it comes to books as I have read hundreds of them over the years! However, Camilla has created an absolutely gorgeous storyline, yet again, which I absolutely loved!!!! I mean if you are a book lover then you really cannot go wrong with a book whose storyline is set around books!! Not only is this book set around books but our protagonist Leighton actually manages to bring her dream book boyfriend to life!! I mean, come on, if we are honest with ourselves, how many times would we have done it if we could? I know I certainly would have many times by now!! The storyline is stunning and is ram packed with friendship, romance, mystery, fun, books and so, so much more!! It truly is is an absolutely fantastic, fun, romantic read!!! This is one of those books that are very easy to read and perfect for any reading situations whether you are laying on a beach or curled up in front of a fire. It is an absolutely ideal read for anyone who is looking for a gorgeous and relaxing read that will have you hooked from beginning to end. I absolutely LOVED the stunning descriptions Camilla has created which made it so easy to picture everything that was going on which had been helped by Camilla's fantastic evocative writing skills. I cannot wait to get hooked into more of Camilla's books so I hope she is busy writing her next page turner while I get stuck into her previous books!! This is definitely one of those books that will turn a frown upside down and make life seem a lot brighter. Grab your copy today and fall in love with It's Complicated today!!!

I absolutely fell in love with all the characters were all an eclectic mix and each one of them were realistic and strong. I was completely invested in them all. It also makes them more realistic, believable and made me feel even more for them than I normally would. I adored watching the dynamics, friendships and relationships develop and change between Leighton, Killian and the rest of the characters. They were all just fantastic and memorable characters that had me laughing, shouting, smiling and so much more thanks to Camilla's emotive writing skills and brilliant characterisation. It is obvious that Camilla actually cares about which shines through in the depth of her writing and is something I always love seeing when I read a book as it makes me even more invested in them when they are so realistically created!! They quickly felt more like friends than fictional characters which led to the only downfall of the book and that is that these amazing characters live only on the pages of this brilliant book. However, they will also live on in my mind for a long time and I already miss them! There were just so many amazing characters that I loved getting to know that I could write about them all day but I don't want to bore you so I'll start to wrap it up here. Camilla's fantastic evocative writing skills ensures each of the characters come to life in front of your eyes as you turn the pages. Each of the characters are memorable and unique in their own ways and they are a group that I wont be forgetting any time soon! I am gutted I may not meet them again but am definitely looking forward to more fantastic characters created by this absolutely brilliant author!! Well done Camilla!

Congratulations Camilla on an absolutely fantastic and fun read that I just could not put down!!! I cannot wait to read more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!!

Overall a unique, unputdownable, gorgeous and fun page turning book!! A perfectly relaxing and stunning read!!!!

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This was such a fun premise! We all fall in love with at least one book boyfriend in our lives, so reading a book where a book boyfriend comes out of the book and becomes real was so fun! This was a super enjoyable story, very unique, and the characters were lovable!

What a cute premise.
When she’s ghosted by yet another Tinder match, Leighton swears off dating for life. Who needs apps and blind dates when she has the perfect-in-every-way (apart from being fictional) heroes of her beloved romance novels?

That night, Leigh finds a second-hand book on her TBR pile that transports her to the small-town of Lakeville Hills, where the heroines wear shorty-shorts and the men drink bourbon. And as Leigh drifts off to sleep, she dreams of billionaire cowboy Killian St Clair, who could win a gold medal for smouldering and bicep flexing.

For a while, Leigh finds it easier to stomach misogynistic supervisors, newly coupled friends, and extravagant bridesmaid duties knowing she can return to Lakeville Hills each evening. Until one day she wakes up to find she’s brought a bit of Lakeville Hills back with her: the impossibly sexy and entirely implausible Killian St Clair is in her apartment.

However it took way too long to get to the point of him showing up in the real world. And until he does it’s just a really weird story of a girl wanting to sleep and dream all the time. Is it an easy fluffy read? Yes. Am I going to remember this for long? No

Leighton is fed up with her friends coupling up and being the only single one in the group. 

So soon her nights turn quiet and while romance is lacking in her life, it's always nice to get lost in a romance novel; and it's more perfect when the book character shares your same name. 

But strange things are happening and book boyfriends are very real. 

Wow! This book is a cross-genre of romance and a little science fiction. But works perfectly. Told in first person point of view throughout the character of Leighton I loved how we were absorbed into her world. 

This novel can be split into two parts, which I didn't see coming, and although I felt the first half was a faster pace than the second it was still an engaging narrative. 

Killian and Leighton were perfect characters and I kept wondering what book boyfriend I would want to have. 

I did want a bit more justice for Leighton when it came to Dr Hammond but I was pleased Leighton stood up for herself in the end. 

This was a crazy but perfect narrative and is a book I want to read for the first time again and again.

It Started with a Book was different from any romance I had read. Leighton, aka Leigh, is frustrated when she is ghosted by yet another Tinder date. With no real-life plans for the weekend, she grabs a random book from the shelf and starts reading. Soon, Leigh begins to dream of Lakeville Hills and the super hot billionaire cowboy Killian St Clair. Each night she returns to her story, and begins to fall more in love with her book boyfriend, Killian. Then, one day she wakes up and Killian is there with her, in her time.

I'm not one to have book boyfriends, but I know many people do. This book takes that to the next level, when Leigh's book boyfriend comes alive, leaving the book and arriving in her bed. I enjoyed this story, but I had to just go with the flow. It is a fun premise and I enjoyed how they got to know each other. The idea that they were writing the story together made for an interesting ride. Of course, things change when Killian becomes real, and he and Leigh had to get him ID, so he could live, work and exist in real time. There was some great banter and sizzling kisses, but Killian was a gentleman and wouldn't take advantage of Leigh until she loved him, I really liked that. This was a fun story, with great characters, laughs and slow burn romance. I do enjoy Camilla Isley's books and recommend this one to those who enjoy a fun, romance with some magic thrown in.

I thought this was really cute. I loved the romance in a book coming to life. I enjoyed the banter and the chemistry between the two main characters. I wish we knew more about their past and even more details about their relationship. Much of the book felt very surface level. I wanted a little more heat and drama. This book is fun, adorable and a quick enjoyable read.

After another terrible date, Leighton swears off dating, except in the fictional world of books. When she picks up a second hand book that transports her to Lakeville Hills and Killian, she finds him entering her dreams. Until she wakes up and finds him in her apartment. Will she be able to help him navigate the real world? Will she be able to protect her heart from the possibility of him disappearing back into a book?

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

It was a real treat to read another book from Camilla Isley as I enjoy her writing. This time, we explore the concept of book boyfriends as Leigh is transported to the fictional town of Lakeville Hills. She immediately encounters the brooding but gorgeous Killian St Clair and is profoundly irritated by his arrogance despite being attracted to him. The manner in which the story progresses is well-considered, and I particularly liked the idea of the book writing itself based on her dreams.
Leigh is a definite challenge as a female lead, but her lack of success in the dating game speaks more about her bad choices than her attractiveness. As a computer programmer, Leigh is no slouch on the brains front, but she loses all reason when it comes to affairs of the heart. Frustratingly, Leigh’s family are determined to fix her up with Mr Right. There’s a delightful section that looks at fake dating as a trope that I really enjoyed.
Killian is every bit the swoon-worthy leading man, and his cowboy manners are precisely what I needed to read about. I’m not saying all male leads should be passive, but there’s room for a helping of good old cowboy charm. I really did enjoy the witty exchanges between the couple and loved how well-considered the ramifications of bringing Killian into the real world proved to be.
This is a terrific story and I would highly recommend it if you fancy escaping for a few hours and hanging out with a cowboy billionaire.

This was such a fun lighthearted read! It was such a fun cute book idea. I’ve never read anything like this and as a book lover it’s always to fun reading a book about a book lover! I definitely recommend. 3.5

This book is just as fun and delightful as the cover and blurb suggest it would be! It’s a light-hearted romantic comedy with a touch of magical realism that I simply blew through in a day and a half. The entire concept felt unique and that made it so enjoyable. Yes, readers must be willing to suspend disbelief as you read, but for me, that’s half the reason I read–I want to escape! I’d love for a bit more about the magic behind the fictional boyfriend becoming real, but could also see how that might have distracted from the story. I honestly didn’t think about the hows until I finished because I was so engrossed in the story! The writing is fun and some scenes and banter are truly so funny. If you’re looking for a summer reading escape with a little bit of magic, look no further–this would be perfect to read by the pool or if you’re stuck at home when it’s a billion degrees outside!

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a fun contemporary romance. On first impressions, I really liked the protagonist, Leighton. I found her funny, relatable and a little bit endearing. As a book lover, I related to that element of her personality too.

As I got more into the story, I felt the need to embrace Leighton's love of books more and more. I think that from time to time, I have sometimes wished for a “book boyfriend” myself, so that was something else that I could relate to. I enjoyed the book-related dialogue, and in general, the story was entertaining and a little bit humorous.

This was a fun read which made me smile, and I would recommend it if you're a romance reader, especially if you consider reading to be a big part of your personality.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

You have to suspend belief to read this. This combines reality and magic. It didn’t start with a bang but when it picked up there was the curiosity and suspense to know exactly how this will pan out.

It follows the story of Leigh and Killian, a book character who magically becomes real.

I enjoyed this in parts. I enjoyed Leigh and Killian’s interactions in the magic book. I had a topsy turvy time with it. For one, where did the book come from? I didn’t like how the mystery of the book was left unresolved. Also, Leigh’s supervisor I felt that should have more than the conclusion it was given.
There was also the overuse of romance tropes that it became nauseating afterwards.

If you enjoy magical realism and like the idea of a book boyfriend come to life then this is your book.

I was excited to read this book as it sounded cute and funny and it lived up to that expectation. However, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would even though I laughed out loud lots of times. There were elements that I loved; the witty banter, one liners, book trope references and the crazy escapades that Leighton got caught up with in the dream book world. At other times, the story was quite slow and there wasn't much character development. Killian was a romantic fictional character with no back story or substance and he never broke out of that box for me.
I did like the side characters. Oliver was a favourite of mine and I was expecting the book to be passed on to him so he could find the spark with someone special in a sequel but his story went in another direction.
I listened to the audio version of this book on spotify and the narration is excellent.

It Started with a Book is Camilla Isley’s newest stand-alone story. It is a fantasy romance featuring a STEMinist heroine and a fictional romantic hero who comes to life.

Leighton is a graduate student who is unlucky in love and swears off dating after another bad Tinder match. She is content with escaping into her favorite romance novels set in beautiful Lakeville Hills. After dreaming about the perfect hero, billion cowboy Killian St Clair, he appears in Leigh’s apartment. She helps him navigate the real world, and of course falls in love with him. The conflict in the story is if Killian can remain in the real world or if he will vanish back into fiction.

I have read all of this author’s stories, and It Started with a Book is very different from her previous works. It contains all of her usual elements: a wonderful story that is full of sparkling banter between the main characters, a successful STEMinist heroine, colorful co-workers and friends, and excellent closed-door romance. The challenge for readers is accepting the improbability of a book character coming to life without an explanation about how the magic happened. The romantic advice from the couples was my favorite parts of the story.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Boldwood Books for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Just not for me. The writing was messy and I found the book within a book story to be very annoying.

Enjoyable story, but kind of devoid of conflict.

Props for the original meet-cute.

Leightin finds a book on her shelve she doesn't remember buying. She starts reading, but soon enough it seems the book was a misprint: before the romance got spicy the book runs out of printed pages. A little bothered, Leigh goes to sleep and in her dream she continues the story from her book. It doesn't take long for her to fall for the book's hero.

The feeling seems to be mutual, but Leigh is convinces Killian is not real. She gives him a push and both tumble into her world.

There's lots of couple getting to know each other stuff, but very little "how the heck did this fictional character end up in my life? Am I hallucinating? Do I have a brain tumor?'

Story dragged a bit towards the end.

It Started with a Book is a super cute concept. Who wouldn't want a swoon worthy Alpha male full of romantic tropes book hero to jump off the pages of your romance novel and into real life?! Unfortunately, I did not find Killian St. Clair to be swoon worthy. I also wasn't a fan of the FMC, Leighton, to bemoan the fact that she was 24 and perpetually single while all of her friends doled out wise coupled up advice. I'm 10+ years older and still single. I don't need a child (even though she's just a book character!) complaining that she's a lonely old maid.

I have loved Camilla Isley's other books, but I just didn't devour this book like I have her others.

"It Started with a Book" by Camilla Isley is undeniably cute and even has a touch of originality. The premise of a magic book and the adventures that ensue was intriguing at first. However, as a fellow bookworm, I found that the book leaned too heavily into every bookworm cliché imaginable. While some readers might find this endearing, it felt a bit overdone to me.

Another aspect that left me unsatisfied was the unresolved mystery surrounding the magical book itself. I was hoping for more answers or at least some deeper exploration of its origins and powers. Instead, the mystery remained just that—mysterious, which left me feeling a bit let down by the end.

Overall, while the book had its charming moments, the overuse of clichés and the lack of resolution for the central mystery prevented it from being a standout read for me.