Macleod is an author I have dipped in and out of but I’ve always really enjoyed her books. At the beginning I thought the story was going to go one way and then it took a really unexpected turn (in a good way!)

I learnt a lot more about mills than I thought I ever would plus I loved the strong friendship story line with some romance thrown in.

This is a great escapist read

What a fun book! The first half of this had me laughing out loud, reading bits to my partner, and begging him to get me a PA like Janice! It was absolutely hysterical. The second half is a total change (no spoiler, it's called The Do-Over) and I loved the character development. The friendship that formed between Thea and Rebecca was very realistic and sweet. The unexpected HEA had me smiling at the end. A one-day read that will stay with me for a while.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an ebook copy ARC of this book hoping for a feel-good romantic comedy, and while it delivered on some fronts, it fell a little short for me in some aspects.

The premise is cute after a breakup, protagonist Bella decides to reinvent herself by leaving her old life behind and starting fresh. I enjoyed watching her navigate this new chapter, and the humor throughout the book definitely kept it light and entertaining! The secondary characters added some fun dynamics, and there were moments of charm that had me smiling.

However, while the book is an easy read, the romance felt somewhat rushed, and I would have liked more development between the main characters to make their connection feel more authentic. I loved the characters she ended up with but I wish we would have gotten to see them together more!

Overall, if you’re looking for something light and quick you should definitely give it a read!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for the honest review!!

A wonderfully written slice of life. If you love slow burn, impulsive decisions, and romantic surprises at the end, then this book is for you! I got a lot of enjoyment out of not knowing who the love interest was, so for that reason I'm going to keep my mouth shut hehe.

Going into this, I thought I wouldn't like it. I was soo wrong. I honestly love the characters so much it's not even funny. Phoebe MacLead had me so hooked on every single word that I didn't even realize half the book had gone by! The way the reader gets to know Thea is done so well, I truly felt like I understood the main character. It's not just about romance, but about a woman figuring out her life and the friendships made along the way. If I had any gripes about this book, it was that the romance was more of a subplot than I was expecting, but I wasn't disappointed! The ending was a pleasant surprise.

Special note: A lot of care, research, and time went into writing the world of law and watermills! I always love and respect when you can clearly tell an author has taken a lot of effort to learn about the things they write about.

I'm always curious how long it takes people to read books, so for any curious readers like me, it took me a little over 4 hours to read this one. A big thank you to Phoebe MacLead and Boldwood books for this arc in exchange for an honest review. <3

I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but then it kept dragging on and it fell a little flat for me. I liked the MC though. I could really relate to her.

Sometimes, being the best at what you do, isn’t that important. Thea Rogers embarks on the road to self-discovery after becoming a bigshot lawyer who has dedicated her life to climbing the corporate ladder. It isn’t until she attends the funeral of a colleague that she reflects on the life that she’s made for herself and wonders, is it all worth it?

Being made partner at a prestigious London firm is what she thought she wanted, but at what cost is it when her only relationships consist of irregular phone calls to her family, a friends-with-benefits situation with a colleague and the occasional disagreement with a neighbor over a parking space.

The first half of this book was inspiring. Following Thea on her journey of becoming the youngest, female partner at her firm had boss lady written all over it. Even during her epiphany, MacLeod’s writing style had you feeling like the main character’s personal cheerleader. Especially as she comes to realise that there are things more important than your career.

The forming of friendships and the drastic changes Thea makes, felt natural and progressive in a way that wasn’t rushed, yet felt necessary. The way the book is written allows it to be a fast-paced, page-turner without the usual complications.

However, as Thea’s story develops into the second half of her journey, it almost feels like I’m reading a different book. I loved the premise of Thea and her new friend Rebecca going all in on a new, yet risky adventure and how Thea’s perception is altered along the way but...

From the get-go, nothing about this book felt romance related. I thought it was more along the lines of female empowerment and self-development. So I was a bit confused as to why a potential love-interest was thrown in three-quarters of the way through, how Thea immediately changes her opinion of him and then how the reappearance of a character from the start of the book becomes her ‘happy ending’. It felt rushed, and confusing. And, completely unneccesary.

I enjoyed Thea’s storyline. Everything apart from her love-life felt important and inspiring. Developing friendships and reconnecting with family, discovering yourself and pursuing what’s important to you rather than expectations was what I took away from this book. Not everything has to be a romance, but it felt that the pressure of that led a halfhearted storyline to be chucked in halfway through.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed The Do-Over and read it in one sitting! If you’re looking to feel inspired and want encouragement to make a drastic change to your life, Thea’s story will surely motivate you!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thea is an ambitious lawyer who becomes a partner at her firm, only to find herself questioning her passion for winning cases and solving problems.

After a rocky start, she befriends her neighbor, Rebecca, and they decide to sell their houses. On a whim, they decide to invest in a property to flip, inspired by their favorite TV show. However, things quickly spiral out of control. Will Thea weather the storm, or will she retreat to her old life?

I had high hopes for this novel, but it ultimately fell flat. The character development felt uneven, with some aspects overdone. The first half drags while setting up the premise, with little real action. The final 20% feels rushed, addressing plot points that were largely ignored until the last few chapters.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for honest feedback.

Rating: 2.7/5 rounded to 3.

This book has an interesting premise, an engaging writing style, and likable characters. The set-up in the first part of the book was especially well-written. To me, the second part of the book fell a little flat; I was expecting something more meaningful to come of Thea’s life-changing decision after a colleague’s death, and some of the plot events in the last part of the story jolted me. I still really enjoyed the book though. It was a lovely feel-good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC. This review contains my honest opinions.

I was looking forward to reading this because the cover, the title and the blurb drew me in. I enjoyed the premise of self discovery, of trying new things and of realising what really matters to you. I thought this was cool and different from any other romances I’ve read recently. Thea felt like a real person, flawed but understandable and I really liked her journey.

That said, the book didn’t go anywhere for me. It was a pleasant read and I’ve rated it 3 stars - the second half fell short compared to the first half. I would still recommend to others because it could be a better fit for them! I did enjoy the writing style too so I’d be happy to try any other books by the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Thea Rogers, 32, has just become the youngest junior partner at her prestigious corporate law firm. She is elated as she lives for her job, but then an elderly, not very well-liked senior partner dies suddenly and everyone just attends his funeral out of duty. Even his wife and ex mistress seemed to despise him. Thea re-evaluates her life and finds that she has no relationships to speak of. Her parents and sister don't understand her job and the man in her life, Alasdair, is only a friend with benefits.

So she impulsively jacks her job in and moves to Kent where her parents are, to make money flipping a property with Rebecca, the ex mistress who lives in her street and has a son called Rollo. They find an old water mill to renovate but there's a problem - the water mill is actually functional so a charity gets involved to make sure they don't dismantle it. They have help from Ben who sold them the mill and George from the charity. But then Alasdair contacts her again, and Thea is torn what to do, especially as the plans for the mill have just changed considerably.

The plot is interesting, and I like the cover. I expected it to be predictable and it was but I surprised myself how much I enjoyed the story. This is light-hearted and extremely well-written, with well developed characters. I like a good renovation and people who change their lives. The book is full of heart and humour, and at the end everyone is happier.

Sometimes what you want and what you need are two totally different things, and it takes something big to open your eyes and figure it out. Of course it helps if you have a huge income and a Porsche that the company lets you keep! What you need may be totally different than you thought ...

This novel started off with a bang and ended with a whimper. I was thoroughly engaged as I was introduced to Thea Rogers, an ambitious, successful corporate lawyer; in fact, she was the youngest candidate to make junior partner at a prestigious London firm. Her professional commitment started to unravel as she made an obligatory appearance at the funeral of a respected but feared senior partner. To her dismay, she observes that the man was reviled by his wife and former mistress, unknown by his two adult sons, and despite the large turnout of colleagues, lacked any devoted friends. Consequently, she begins to reflect on her own life. She has all the trappings of success – wealth, a beautiful home, an expensive car – but she realizes her whole life is consumed by her role. She seldom sees her parents and sister (who do not understand her work), she has one friend with benefits, and no hobbies or recreational pursuits. After one serious misjudgment in her distracted state, she abruptly resigns with no plan for her future.

It was at this point that I began to lose interest in Thea’s path. Creating a partnership with the aforementioned ex-mistress, she purchases a large parcel of land with a cottage, several barns, and a watermill with the intent to renovate and sell it at a profit. The reading got bogged down by a slower pace, which was compounded by tedious descriptions of the inner workings of the mill and uninspired characters.

Overall, the storyline and character development felt uneven, which diminished my enjoyment of the book.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Thea Rogers is a powerhouse in corporate law, on track to be the youngest female partner at her firm, but life throws her a curveball when a senior partner passes away, making her question everything. The plot dives deep into self-discovery, relationships, and what really matters in life. I loved watching Thea reevaluate her choices and wonder if she can truly change. The characters felt real, and the story hit all the right emotional notes without dragging on—it was just the perfect length.

Definitely recommend this one if you’re into stories about finding yourself and what really matters!

Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC!

#TheDoOver #NetGalley

This was a goooood book. The plot and characters were well developed. The book was just the right amount of pages to tell the story. Definitely recommend.