took part in the Boldwood Books Readalong on the 7th and 8th of September 2024.

Great characters, romantic and realistic. Robyn was strong and determined. I really liked her, apart from the fact that she repeated too much the fact that she had mixed race heritage.Her sisters Sorrel and Jess are all unique people.

I didn't like how Fabian's family acted. Julie Houston has a great gift for attention to detail. I liked some parts of A A Class Act more than others. I enjoyed Robyn and Fabian’s chapters and Robyn’s relationships with her sisters. I found the school chapters realistic and enjoyed Robyn’s foray into teaching drama and the students’ reactions to her teaching.

However, I did find the book too long and felt the plot seemed too wordy and dialog-heavy. This pulled me out of the book and I ultimately ended up making it a DNF.

It's not the first Julie Houston book I've reviewed, and it won't be the last. I enjoyed A Village Affair, A Village Vacancy, The Village Vicar, Coming Home to Holly Close.

3 stars

Thanks to Julie Houston and Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Julie is a new-to-me author, and A Class Act didn’t disappoint in the least. I’m pleased to have discovered Julie at the beginning of this brand-new series.

The story is full of diversity, family dynamics, romance, disappointments, humour, and prominent characters. Robyn is lovely, I admired her determination in the first half of the book when she tried so, so hard to achieve her dream of becoming a West End star. I love a musical so I was fully invested in Robyn’s dream and loved her walks through the streets of theatreland in the west end of London.

I’m looking forward to reading more about Robyn and her sisters as the series continues in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review A Class Act by Julie Houston.

What a lovely book. I’m so glad there is going to be more in this series as it ended with me having lots of questions

Robyn has always wanted to perform in the West End. She finally gets a break and gets a part. Along with having a gorgeous boyfriend Fabian, her life is now right on track!
Fate has other ideas though and after having a suffered an injury and breaking up with Fabian, she finds herself back at her childhood home looking after her younger sister Sorrell and living next door to her older sister Jess. Sorrell has been expelled from her school and needs a new one, their mother is in hospital and Robyn needs a job. The new school requires a drama teacher and who better than Robyn even though she never wanted to teach again.
Will this all work out for everyone?

Robyn Allen is edging closer to her West End stardom dream. Alongside her role in the latest hit musical, she's courted by the dashing and successful Fabian Carrington. However, a single misstep shatters her dreams, forcing Robyn to return to Beddingfield, the Yorkshire village she thought she had left behind.

Robyn finds herself back at her mother's home, dealing with her stubborn teenage sister Sorrel, and living next to her older sister Jess, who is tired of always being the responsible one. This isn't the life Robyn envisioned for herself. Yet, more challenges await. Sorrel is in need of a new school, which coincidentally requires a new drama teacher. Despite her promise never to teach, Robyn steps up to support her sister. Together, they pledge to transform St Mede’s, a school filled with pranksters and rebels, but also with potential waiting to be unlocked. Perhaps, Robyn will learn a few life lessons from the students as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and eagerly anticipate the next chapter. The narrative skillfully balances serious issues such as sexual assault with lighter, comedic elements. The evolving bond between the sisters is particularly touching. Additionally, the story playfully echoes Pride and Prejudice, with Robyn and Fabian's misunderstandings threatening their nascent romance. With thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Love Julie Houston books & thoroughly enjoyed her last series. This new book did not disappoint & I look forward to the rest of the series.

This was pure drama. I don't know why so many reviews said it was funny - it was not, like at all. Not complaining - it looked like a drama, felt like a drama from the description and read like one too. More on the depressing and downsides of life - no real uplifting parts. It did a good job of focusing on the family dynamics and showing how much it sucked that Robyn had to return home. I would call this entire book: SOMBER.

"'Sorry, but I'm washing my hair that day.' I pulled at the rubber band but my hair, being so dirty, didn't fall as a sexy waterfall around my shoulders but, instead, stood out at all angles so that I resembled one of those exotic, desirous-of-mating male birds from David Attenborough's Planet Earth."

Julie Houston is a completely new-to-me author, but I always love stories revolving around women who live in the big city, seemingly having their life together, being forced back home to find everything falling apart and relearning who they are, and A Class Act promised to be just that. In it, we meet Robyn, West-End actor and dancer, sort of, and her new flame, barrister Fabian, as they are falling in love and sorting things out. Yet things are not what they seem and after an accident, Robyn moves back home, where she finds herself in a messy situation with her younger and very rebellious sister Sorrel, her overworked sister Jess, and her mum being taken to hospital once again. How will Robyn pull it all together while licking her own wounds?

A lot (and I mean an awful lot) happens in this book, so much so, that I sometimes felt issues were pushed to the side/glanced over, and just generally not given enough time, especially considering the darker nature of some of the topics in this otherwise light-hearted read. Because so much happens, I feel like some of the characters didn't really get their limelight. I really wish I'd gotten to know Jess and Sorrel (and even Fabian and Mason) just a little bit more, because they all seem so unique and interesting in their own way.

At the same time, Julie Houston manages to describe situations in such a way that they become extremely lifelike and very (very) relatable. It is through these details that I found myself longing to learn more about the characters and their story, finding myself pulled towards the book and reading along despite my issues. When I finished the book, I realized that I'd overall quite enjoyed the experience.

I am looking forward to the next book in this new series "The Beddingfield Series", as I hope we will learn just a little bit more about each of the full-fledged characters we have seen glimpses of in A Class Act.

Such a lovely book, I did the readalong and really enjoyed it. The main character has a lot to manage after needing to move back home.
Failed as a west end performer, she has to settle back into a life she'd left behind. There's a lot she's missed over the years. and a lot she needs to adjust to, as well as nursing her broken heart. Who will mend it? Can she find happiness away from the hustle and bustle of London.

Robyn has been working hard at her career and she’s finally landed a spot dancing in a west end show, which would be considered Landon’s version of broadway, and things are going well in her personal life as well. She’s met Fabian, who’s career driven as a solicitor and extremely attractive. Unfortunately things go wrong for Robyn very quickly on both fronts around the same time and she finds herself reluctantly moving back home to Yorkshire and then in order to get her younger sister back on the right path, she takes a teaching position at her school. Soon she finds herself reforming the bonds with her family that had been weakened by time and distance, and also the cute new principal seems to fancy her, so that might not be all bad either.
The story was complex and full of challenges for Robyn as well as her family and takes you on a journey with characters that are well developed and complex. No family is perfect but as long as they are there for each other they can get through anything. There were a few unexpected twists which was a nice surprise, and there was no steam so if you’re looking for a clean women’s fiction with a bit of romance, this might be the book for you.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

“A Class Act” is the first in a new romantic-comedy series by Julie Houston, and it’s a delightful start!

The novel follows Robyn Allen, who has dreamed of performing on London’s West End since childhood. Just as her dream becomes reality and she begins a relationship with the captivating Fabian Carrington, life takes an unexpected turn and Robyn is forced to return to the family home in Yorkshire.

Julie Houston brilliantly captures the complexities of family dynamics while balancing the challenges of love, personal dreams, and family obligations. Robyn’s journey from her musical theatre ambitions to navigating her family’s needs is both captivating and relatable. Each sister’s path unfolds with new relationships and challenges, creating a richly layered narrative.

I especially loved the way the book was brought to a conclusion, with some storylines left open. I’m eagerly anticipating the next instalment in this series. This was my first Julie Houston book, and I’m hooked!

This book had me on the fence at the beginning and I almost sat it aside. I found Robyn a little annoying to tell you the truth. She was quick with the poor, pitiful me attitude and ran when confronted with anything difficult but was quick to judge Fabian’s own questionable decisions. The Robyn that grew in the second portion of the book showed remarkable growth despite the fact that she had to be forced and almost blackmailed into stepping up for her family. The ending wrapped up quickly and left several plots open to exploration in follow up books in the series. I’d really like to see Jess’ journey to be the next Top Chef!

I'm delighted to hear that A Class Act is the first in a new romantic-comedy series by Julie Houston.

A Class Act focuses of Robyn Allen, who dreams of starring in London's WestEnd. Robyn has been working towards this goal since her childhood and just as she bags her dream rile, she also finds herself in a relationship with the intriguing Fabian Carrington.

But life has a habit of turning up surprises and Robyn has to return home to Yorkshire to support her family. This is where we properly meet the Allen family, along with all the subsequent drama.

With plenty of humour throughout the storyline, love, family commitments and dreams all collide for the Allens. And I laughed out loud at the conversations between Jess and Robyn and especially Sorrel's scenes.

The family dynamic is brilliantly described and I'm excited for book two.

Absolutely fantastic. Heartwarming and hilarious

Thank you Julie Huston, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this ARC

A Class Act by Julie Houston

Robyn's relationship with boyfriend Fabian is over and she has lost her place as a dancer in a West End musical after injuring her knee. She returns home to Yorkshire and things go from bad to worse - her mum is in hospital and her teenage sister has been excluded from school. Robyn takes a position as a drama and dance teacher at another school in order for Sorrel to gain a place there and tries to help her family, with lots of twists and turns along the way.

I loved this book so much, I'm delighted it's the first in a series! I love how the author introduced us to great characters and lots of humour but this is mixed with some serious themes - racism, drugs, grooming, the care system, social justice, deprivation. I can't wait for the next one! Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the pubisher for an ARC of this book.

In this fun and energetic modern fiction novel, readers follow dancer Robyn Allen through a heady romance with a bigshot lawyer, but everything changes when she blows out her knee and has to return to Yorkshire to care for her sister while their mother is in the hospital. When she discovers that her younger sister Sorrel has been acting up at school and that her older sister Jess has been struggling to manage the day-to-day of their family, Robyn steps up for everyone, and that involves a teaching position at Sorrel’s new school. As her life changes and she adjusts to the new normal, Robyn does not expect the changes and lessons she will learn along the way. Robyn, as well as Sorrel, Jess, Fabian, and the many other characters from the novel are complex and well-developed, with strong backstories that add to their relationships and conflicts with other characters in the novel. Complex and full of challenges for Robyn and her family, this novel has real heart and places family at the center of Robyn, Jess, and Sorrel’s journey. Powerful, emotional, and immersive, this is a fantastic, fun, and enjoyable read for everyone looking for a story about love and family.

What a delightful cast of characters Julie Houston has created here! When we first meet Robyn, she’s living a rather solitary, but goal-oriented life in London. She knows what she wants to achieve and has left her hometown village of Beddingfield (and her dysfunctional family) in order to do so. She has her eyes firmly on the prize: stardom at any cost! And she very nearly gets there, with the gorgeous guy thrown in for good measure.

But in the blink of an eye, a severe injury, together with Robyn’s stubborn nature, a whole lot of prejudice and some snobbery and misogyny, put paid to all her dreams. The cherry on top is her mother’s recurring illness landing her back in hospital, and she finds herself with no choice but to head back to the village to help her sister Jess, who has her hands full with their teenage sister Sorrel and her own young daughter, Lola.

With a father who has always flitted in and out of their lives, the girls and their mother have always learned to manage without him and I found it so interesting that each of his daughters interpreted their relationship with him in completely different ways. He’s not a bad guy, just an absent one, while he travels around wherever there’s an opportunity to work, doing what he loves as a musician. He’s not stingy with money and although they aren’t living the high life in Beddingfield, he does ensure that they have what they need to follow the opportunities that come their way. It’s a conversation starter for sure … is it better to be absent and earning, or would it be better if he remained at home, with a stable job (doing something he would probably hate), earning a steady (mediocre) income that might not bring in as much as he makes on the road?

Our introduction to Beddingfield is a delightful one. Robyn and her family are complex – as most families tend to be. Their relationships with each other and with all who they come into contact with as they navigate their way through challenges and triumphs, are full of warmth, regardless of how stormy things may get. I can’t wait to read more in this series and see how things develop.

Julie Houston cleverly weaves some serious themes into this otherwise light and easy read: racism, dysfunction, drug abuse, sexual grooming among others. There are numerous, perfectly paced, unexpected twists that pleasantly surprised me too and for me that really elevated this from a simple cosy read to something rather special.

Loved it! So happy for the new series and characters. I found Robyn to be hard to take at times. Her reactions can be over the top, especially when it comes to Fabian. Fabian's a lawyer, I'm pretty sure he doesn't always represent innocent clients. Whenever she's mad, she tries to make him feel bad about his life. I enjoyed Robyn more when she was back in Beddingfield helping her family. Sorrel was awful. She was a teenage demon. She had no discipline and did whatever she wanted. She would have been a great candidate for those outdoor camps for rebellious teens. I can understand why Jess needed help. She was left to handle everything by herself. Mason surprised me the most. He definitely wasn't the person I thought he was. I'm surprised how well Robyn and Jess turned out. Lisa, their mum, is constantly in the hospital. None of which is her fault. The girls were left to pick up the pieces. Jayden is definitely not the best father. He's hardly ever around for his girls or Lisa. Sorrel seemed to resent his absenteeism the most. i can't wait to see what's next for the Allen sisters. Will Grease gout on without a hitch? Will Robyn leave her teaching position? She's the best thing for the school and the kids really like her.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the characters, story and writing style. Of course it had to end before Yorkshire Christmas TopChef final. Maybe Fabian and Jess will start a restaurant together. Hopefully, Robyn doesn't up and leave her family and go back to London. The sisters all seem so much happier together. I can't wait for the next book in the series. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Boldwood Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

EXCERPT: Having hoped to make notes on, and emulate, a woman barrister, I was disappointed to see the only female in the legal profession present was the judge and immediately wondered how i could extract myself from my seat to try my luck in another court. It was like being at the theatre when you're suddenly desperate for a pee but don't dare disturb the whole row, knowing each and every one will have to rise like a Mexican wave, dropping jackets and coats, tutting crossly while doing so.
Making the decision to count to ten before attempting to make my exit, I'd got to nine when I saw him.
'Fabian Mansfield Carrington, K.C.,' my neighbour informed me knowingly as I started to rise, before sitting back down, transfixed. 'One of the youngest - if not THE youngest - to become King's Counsel.'
'How on earth do you know that?' I whispered back, unable to take my eyes from the man in question.
'Oh, I know everything about MY boys,' she said importantly, exhaling a cloud of minty breath in my direction.
'Your boys?'
'Yes, been coming here for years. Know 'em all,' she boasted. 'I'll often manage to have a chat with them at some point.'
'Really?' I stared.
'Absolutely,' she whispered again. 'Fabian down there is set on becoming a top judge one day. 'Bit of all right, isn't he?' she added, surreptitiously offering me a polo mint as though it were an illegal Class A drug. 'He's my favorite at the moment; never miss one of his performances if I can help it. So, how do you know the defendant, then? Is he a loved one? Yor brother? Boyfriend?'
'No, no, nothing like that,' I laughed, to her obvious disappointment: I could see she'd have loved to have been offering a hanky or sympathetic hand if my 'loved one' was about to be sent down for ten years. 'I don't know him at all. I'm an actor. Out of work at the moment. Well, no, I do work - at Graphite. On Conduit Street in Mayfair?' I might not particularly enjoy the shifts I put in there three times a week, but I wasn't averse to a bit of showing off about the restaurant - it was, after all, listed in Time Out and Esquire as one of London's top ten restaurants.
'Fancy.' Minty breath sniffed, somewhat disdainfully. I'd bet any money that three hundred years ago, she'd have bagged a good seat, knitting in hand, at every public hanging at Tyburn Gallows.
'Right.' I dithered, probing with the tip of my tongue the hole in the mint, knowing I really should move to another court to observe a female barrister, but completely entranced by the man now standing in the well of the court. He paused, shuffling papers in front of him, and then bent to speak to a colleague who, catching his arm, was obviously determined to have his full attention. After a few seconds, Carrington turned slightly, his attention moving from those involved in the legal business of the day to those of us in the public gallery, idly surveying the audience to the drama that was about to unfold. As his eyes met mine, I felt myself utter an involuntary gasp: this man was quite devastating, but, after giving me can only be described as an incredibly intense stare, he looked away, taking no further interest in what he'd seen.
'Hard luck,' Minty Breath cackled, nudging me in the ribs. 'He almost makes love with those incredible eyes of his to hopeful girls who've come specially to watch him in action - I've seen it. You're obviously not his type.'

ABOUT 'A CLASS ACT': Robyn Allen is finally getting closer to her dream of West End stardom. And along with her role dancing in the latest hot musical, she’s being wined and dined by an equally hot man – the wildly successful and well-connected Fabian Carrington. But one slip up and her dreams are shattered, and Robyn has to hobble back to the Yorkshire village of Beddingfield, and the life she hoped she’d escaped.

Moving back into her mum’s house with her recalcitrant teenage sister Sorrel, next door to her older sister Jess who’s fed up with picking up the slack, is not how Robyn pictured her year. But there’s more to come. Sorrel needs a new school, and the school needs a new drama teacher. Despite having vowed never to teach again, Robyn knows she has to support her sister.

So together Sorrel and Robyn vow to take on St Mede’s – home to jokers, tearaways and trouble-makers, but with a hidden heartbeat ready to be inspired. And who knows, the kids might have something to teach Robyn about life too…

MY THOUGHTS: There's a lot going on in this book from the moment Robyn picks the wrong courtroom to observe a female barrister until the satisfying conclusion of this book. She's one of those characters you can immediately envisage, who takes whatever life throws at her, crumbles briefly, then gets up and just keeps on going. She's bolshy and opinionated but has the kindest heart.

Her life certainly is turning out even remotely how she'd envisaged it - but then no one in her family's life has. It must be hereditary! Her older sister Jess, instead of being a famous chef, is a carer in a rest home and singly parenting ten-year-old Lola; her younger sister Sorrel has been excluded from school; her mother has severe health issues and is frequently hospitalised; and her father's idea of parenting is to throw bundles of twenty pound notes at them as he dashes off to another part of the world on a gig.

I always enjoy Julie Houston's books and A Class Act is no exception. Julie has the knack of taking everyday frustrations and turning them into amusing anecdotes for the pleasure of her readers. It is impossible to be unhappy while reading one of her books. Nothing ever quite turns out as expected - well it may, but it takes the scenic route to get there - and the journey is always entertaining and most pleasurable.

If you haven't read a Julie Houston book yet, do yourself a favor and start with A Class Act, the first in a new series set in the Yorkshire village of Beddingfield. It doesn't disappoint!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#AClassAct #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Julie Houston is Yorkshire born and bred. She lives in Huddersfield where her novels are set and her only claims to fame are that she taught at ‘Bridget Jones’ author Helen Fielding’s old school, her neighbour is ‘Chocolat’ author Joanne Harris, and her friend is about to marry Tracy Emin’s cousin! Oh, and she was rescued by Frank Bough when, many years ago, she was ‘working as a waitress in a cocktail bar’ at the Kensington Hilton in London.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of A Class Act by Julie Houston for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

From the moment I encountered Robyn, I was captivated by her relentless determination to excel in everything she undertook. Her understandable cynicism, particularly when faced with the uber-wealthy Fabian Carrington, added depth to her character. Robyn was fiercely proud of her heritage, yet acutely aware of the intolerance that still pervades society, making her constantly mindful of others’ reactions.

Fabian epitomized the quintessential leading man—wealthy, successful, and strikingly handsome. Most importantly, he seemed utterly enchanted by Robyn. However, his inability to control his family’s behavior posed significant challenges for her.

The narrative takes an intriguing turn when the story shifts from London to Robyn’s family home in Yorkshire. It quickly becomes apparent that Robyn’s presence is vital at home, and Yorkshire holds a special place in the author’s heart. Robyn steps up to manage her younger sister’s welfare, even joining the teaching staff at her new school. I found myself rooting for the drama team at St. Mede’s school, hoping for their triumph.

Beddingfield skillfully introduces us to Robyn’s family, offering a clear understanding of her proud and resilient personality. Her unconventional childhood and the similar path she left for her sister are vividly portrayed. The more time spent with them, the more evident the family dynamic becomes, radiating warmth and understanding.

This is a remarkable story and a brilliant start to a new series. The characters are intricately drawn, and Beddingfield’s storytelling resonates with honesty and a commitment to integrity. Without giving away any spoilers, I highly recommend this delightful book.

This is a story centred around three sisters, and their wider family as they try to make sense of the life chances which they have been given, All three sisters are creative but need to find the courage to take a risk and go for what they want for their futures. Robyn is about to get her great break as a musical theatre performer. Her life in London is far removed from her Yorkshire roots. The price of her taste of freedom seems to have been the overwhelming circumstances that overtake her family back home.

When an accident forces Robyn to return home, she steps up to the plate and tries to understand her younger sister who seems in danger of going off the rails. The eldest sister feels that life has passed her by and is exhausted at trying to cope with her sister, child and ailing mother. There is plenty of detail in the story as the sisters navigate their lives. The men in the story seem to be at the periphery and what you see is not always what you get. With romance, some humour especially in Robyn's new career as a sink school teacher, and observations about racial prejudice delivered with a light touch, there is much to enjoy.

In short: new beginnings and second chance