This is such a fun story. The team at the Ever After Agency are wonderful characters and I’ve loved being back with Poppy and her team as they try to match the individuals looking for love.
Raff’s story is an interesting one and I thought the idea of the baking contest an interesting aside to the storyline. Seeing his and Gaby’s friendship bloom was lovely and the support they provide eachother to be admired. Sandy Barker captures their friendship perfectly. The friendly teasing and ribbing between them shows their closeness and affection for eachother.
As with all books in the series, we’ve got to know a little more about all of the characters and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

A cute friends-to-lovers Christmas story.

Best friends Gaby and Raff do everything together. But now that Raff is famous from winning Britain's Best Baker and is single after yet another disastrous relationship, the Ever After Agency is going to help him find true love. Gaby acts as his wing-woman while the agency secretly sets him up on dates. Until she realizes she's fallen for Raff just as he fell for someone else.

I really enjoy friends-to-lovers stories, and this one is definitely cute. I liked seeing Raff get secretly set up on dates and reading as Gaby realizes her feelings. The friend group in this series is very close-knit and supportive. Finally, the bits of Christmas make for a great seasonal read.

On the downside, I felt like the pacing wasn't great and I think the story was perhaps not as unique as I would hope. It would make a great made-for-TV Christmas story, though!

Overall, if you want a fun, slightly silly romance, I definitely think this one is worth the read. It was an enjoyable read and I think it would be perfect for curling up with a cup of cocoa during a holiday visit with family.

I just wasn't a fan of this one... I kept reading because the premise had potential but it was never developed. It was way too long and so convoluted with its backstory. I just wanted it to end. Hope you have better luck!!

Someone Like You comes out next week on November 12, 2024, and you can purchase HERE.

That's why I'm grateful to Raff and Freya for 'adopting' me.

Eight years ago, when I transferred from the Seattle office to London, I knew no one. Not a soul. And, as luck would have it, I joined a team that included Raff and Freya, who were already a firm duo, and from week one, we became a tightknit trio.

I imagine they took pity on me - poor, helpless waif. And rightly so. I was mid-twenties, far from home, living in a city ten times the size of the one I'd left behind, and American. The culture shock was so extreme, it knocked me sideways.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
3.5 stars rounded up!
I did not know before I requested the ARC that this was the 4th in a series. This can be read as a standalone, but I do feel after reading that I could have benefitted from reading about the other characters in the previous books before reading this one. I am a Great British Baking Show lover and I loved that our MMC is a baker. The matchmaking premise of this book was also super fun. This was a great light read for an incredibly dark week. If you need a book to uplift your spirits this is a great one!

I picked up this book because the premise intrigued me, and midway through, I realized the characters felt familiar—I had read the first book in the series, Match Me If You Can! I didn’t realize it was part of the Ever After series since it wasn’t labeled as such. That said, it works well as a standalone, but it’s also fun to recognize characters from earlier books.

The story centers on Raff, who wins Britain’s top baking competition only to be dumped the same day he planned to propose. Known for diving headfirst into love, he finds himself lost, and his best friends, Gaby and Freya, decide to help by setting him up. But Gaby soon realizes that maybe she is the right one for Raff. This friends-to-lovers romance is filled with themes of found family, self-discovery, and love.

The book made me laugh out loud several times, and the bond between Raff, Gaby, and Freya felt so genuine. I loved how it explored different kinds of love, from romantic to familial, as well as the fears and insecurities that come with pursuing new dreams and seeking acceptance. Ultimately, it’s a heartfelt story about finding love and acceptance from those who see us as we truly are—a journey that feels both relatable and inspiring.

3.3 Stars
One Liner: A decent timepass read

Raffe and Gaby are best friends and work in the same team for a marketing company. When his passion for baking brings him the title of Britain’s Best Baker, it seems like a good time to help him find the love of his life. Enter, Ever After Agency, a matchmaking company run by friends.
Gaby is happy to help them find the right woman for Raffe but soon she realizes her feelings for him might be more than just friendship. However, when Raffe falls for one of the selected candidates, Gaby has to decide if she wants a chance at love at the risk of ruining her friendship.
The story comes in Gaby and Poppy’s first-person POVs.

My Thoughts:
This should work as a standalone (I haven’t read the previous books). However, I was unprepared for Poppy’s POV in a story that didn’t belong to her.
Firstly, the premise of friends-to-lovers with some supposed third-party drama is not only interesting but has much potential to explore the MCs’ friendship and the realization parts. Unfortunately, the book succeeds only to a point.
The second half is decidedly better and more entertaining than the first. Once the setting changes, the story ups the ante with ease. The main reason for this is the focus on Gaby and Raffe even though there are a bunch of people around them.
The first half takes time to establish the dynamic, which is good but I was so annoyed by Freya (until she redeemed herself to an extent). Also, I needed more of Aunt CiCi. She sounds wonderful!
The main characters are actually good. I could empathize with both of them. However, the chapters with Poppy’s first-person POV (especially the ones set away from the office) were irritating. All of it could have been condensed and told to us in a couple of paragraphs. Her POV should have been in the third person.
Instead of limiting Raffe’s POV to the prologue, it should have been included more (at least 3 chapters) in between by replacing Poppy’s home scenes. That would have given us more insight into his feelings and the exact moment of realization. This part has been settled in a single sentence.
I enjoyed meeting Gaby’s family a lot (even the aunt, lol). Seeing how this ended, I feel they will feature in one of the upcoming books as well. I might try that one just to meet them again. Lovely family vibes with chaos, banter, love, and laughter.
Though the book explores another trope (forced proximity), it doesn’t do much except make one of them feel sadder. This is where Raffe’s POV would have elevated the narrative and later too in the supermarket.
I wouldn’t really call this a romance read. It’s more of a women’s fic with a bit of romance. The wait is long (which I don’t mind) but the journey could have been better.

To summarize, Someone Like You is a sweet story about not just love but also about family, friendships, and being there for those who matter to you.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley

I adore Sandy Bakers writing style, I always feel like I'm returning home when I dive back into this world she has created so beautifully for us readers.

The storyline is gorgeous and flows perfectly. The characters are realistic and at times relatable, and the romance had me smiling like a fool throughout.

Loved this book!

It’s been a while since I read a Sandy Barker novel but I just adored Someone Like You. It may be the fourth book in the Ever After Agency series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. It’s funny, quirky, has a great plot line and characters that you fall in love with. I devoured every page of this book and highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

I just loved this book. It was such a good book and such a good story. I just loved the characters as well they were so wonderful.

I just loved this whole series and I would love more. I would highly recommend reading this and the other books as well.

I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

I absolutely loved Gabby & Raff and going on their journey. I loved that there were moments of humor and heart. This is the first book I have read by Sandy Barker and it definitely won’t be the last.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

Friends to lovers is my favourite trope, so this was right in my wheelhouse, but sadly the execution stopped this being perfect. The author has written this from 3 different POV, yet none of them is our hero’s. Because of the multiple POV, I found it rather disjointed as some of the POV made no sense as to why it was included, as it detracted from this storyline rather than adding to it. Due to this, when I saw a section was from Freya or Poppy’s POV, I either skim read or skipped it altogether. I would rate this book 3.5 stars due to this issue, but if you can cope with that, definitely read it as the trope is great

Another of Sandy Barker's Happily Ever After agency books. This one follows Poppy again and the progression of her relationship, as well as Gaby - Freya's best friend. Ideal for fans of the friends to lovers trope, or the close proximity trope where the main characters have to spend time together.
Generally a very cute, cheery read which also really highlights the idea of doing a job you are interested in and living for yourself.
Looking forward to hearing Issy's story in the future no doubt.

This series has been so much fun to journey through and it was fun going back to the Ever After Agency and see what Poppy and the crew are up to now.
This time, Britains Best Baker, Raff, has just been crowned and his best friends and Poppy’s coworker decide that he needs to be fixed up, so they enlist Poppy’s services, along with the help of his other best friend, Gaby. Though Gaby agrees to help them find Raff a match, she soon realizes she has feelings for him herself and she has to deal with him dating other women until she can decide if she wants to act on her feelings or not. And in the midst of it all, Raff tries to figure out a big life change and wants to be accepted by his parents.
If you like: rom-com, friends to lovers, found family and the holidays-this has it all! While this is book 4 of the series, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. It is fun to know the characters backstories though.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

A Recipe for Love
Someone Like You
Ever After Agency #4
Sandy Barker
Boldwood Books

I discovered Sandy Barker and the world of Ever After Agency in the first book where Poppy is hired to Match grumpy rich guy Tristan, so he can inherit family money as long as he marries on time.
Poppy is a great supporting character and I'm glad we get more chapters in here from her POV.
But this story is about Gaby who moved to London from Seattle and works at Global Reach Marketing with her BFFs Freya and Raff.
Raff has just won Britain's Best Baker and has decided to give baking a real shot with his aunt Cici.
It's Dec and Freya decides to ask Poppy to match Raff, who agrees on the condition he doesn't know and doesn't go on dates.
Meanwhile, the spanner in the works is finding the right woman and Gaby objects to many of the choices.
Then, Raff finds out hell be on his own for Christmas and Gaby, despite realising she has feelings for Raff, invites him to Seattle for her family's Christmas.
This a modern Hallmark style rom com meets old school Sandra Bullock and Meg Ryan still romances.
There's lots of hiccups, other family drama, chaos and fun.
As Barker puts it, it's a love letter to Seattle and I can feel that city worming it's way through the pages; from the coffee, to the marks, the Needle, Mount Rainier and Puget Sound. Seattle is one of my favourite places in the world and getting to visit there, meet regular characters and new ones, plus lots of laughter and cake, and this book is everything.
I love this series anyway, and we get to see Poppy, Tris plus besties Jass and Ravi too.
Her books are like a welcome hug from a loved one.
And the sneak preview for book 5 - Going Dutch?- is a helluva preview.
We get our HEA and then some.
Barker is my new rom com must read along with Sarah Morgan and Sue Moorcroft.
I loved this book.

I have loved reading the Ever After Agency series (apart from the second book, which I somehow missed) and honestly this one is so good!

What do you do when you realise you’ve fallen for your best friend? Help him match with his perfect ever after or hope he realises he’s in love with you too? When Gaby realises she’s got feelings for her best friend Raff, she realises it may be too late as Poppy at the ever after agency has already started making a list of his potential happily ever afters.

I really liked Raff and thought it was very refreshing to have a male lead (well for half of the book) and I loved the relationship between him and his Aunt Cici.

This is a perfect friend’s to lovers romance with a bit of a twist. And although this is the fourth book in the series, if you were to read it as a stand alone it wouldn’t matter as it’s written so well!

Thank you Sandy Barker, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. Honestly I love this series so much so if you haven’t tried it yet, this is your sign.

Perfect reading for those that are fans of friends to lovers.
There is great chemistry and banter throughout the story.
All in all, an enjoyable read.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review.

Raff wins the fictional version of GBBO and gets dumped on the same day. Determined to find his HEA , his best friends Freya and Gaby offer to match him through the matchmaking agency that Freya works for. Only, as things progress, Gaby realises that she is in love with Raff herself.

I like a friends to lover trope and I think it is severely underused. Don't get me wrong, I'm down for some enemies to lovers, but there is just somthing about friends to lovers that is so cute. And when it's done well, like in this book, it's even cuter.

I did read a book in the series previously but there were too many POVs and I found it hard to keep up. I would say that the same could partly be said for this story. Poppy is the FMC in one of the previous books and we are also givn her POV in this book - but there just wasn't any need. It took this from being able to be a standalone to some sort of lengthy epilogue for Poppy and Tristan.

I really enjoyed Gabby and Raff and the friendship between them and Freya and I loved Gaby's family. Everyone in this book, excepting Raff's parents, was so supportive and loving of each other and I just really liked that.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would read this author again.

Tropes:
- Minor celebrity
- Matchmaking
- Friends to lovers
- Found family

3.5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. It is so inconvenient to come to the realization that you've fallen in love with your best friend. Such is Gaby’s predicament when she gets roped into helping her other best friend, Freya, a professional matchmaker, find true love for chronically unlucky in love, Raff. Coincidently (and definitely a big part of the story) this year's winner of the Britain's Best Baker.

I enjoyed this book, it was charming and an easy read. It is a part of a series, but I still had no problem following the storyline. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives, and Christmas traditions in both London and Seattle. The dialog was top notch, and the secondary characters were hilarious.

I like friends to lovers…sometimes…but it’s not a favorite. I don’t like the “I like him/her but will help set them up with someone else until I just can’t stand it anymore and then put myself out there as an option.” This unfortunately was like, but that’s the only reason it’s 4 stars and not 5. Personal preference and all. The writing is original with multiple POV and the characters are likeable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this book. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

I think this is just not for me. The characters felt all over the place and i really didn’t like the fact that no one knew about being set up and it was done behind their backs. It made it feel icky to me.

I did like Raff however. I thought his character was well written and was easy to like and connect to.