after multiple attempts at reading- I have decided to DNF. I’m hoping to return to it in the future but right now i’m unable to connect with the author’s writing style.

Thea is a corporate lawyer that works in mergers and acquisitions. She doesn’t have a relationship nor any friendships. She is pretty much married to her work. She’s even on track to become the firm’s youngest junior partner. But then a senior partner dies and Thea starts questioning what she wants. She decides to take a different path with her life with an unexpected friend. Something’s missing however, but what, or who, is going to fill that void?

So…. this book was just okay. I loved the first part of the book where she knew what she wanted and went for it – the youngest female junior partner at the law firm she worked at. It’s sort of inspiring. I get feeling overworked. I get questioning whether it’s the right path. But to just change like she did seemed out of character for her. And then the book got really boring. It felt like the book was going nowhere, and not even fast. It was going no where very slowly.

This is advertised as a rom-com, but there’s barely any romance in it. It’s more of a self discovery story really. Thea was on a journey of self discovery to find what made her happy. There were a few chapters with romance thrown in there, but it was VERY minimal. I really would have liked more of the romance and less of the watermill.

There is supposed a be a book two, but I don’t know if I’m going to read it.

Thea has dedicated her life to her law career and doing so has forgotten about her fiends, herself and her love life. When a partner at her firm dies she realizes how precious life is and if she was to die tomorrow would anyone care? She takes this pivotal moment to make a change in her life and focus on things that bring her joy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

The Do-Over by Phoebe MacLeod is about Thea Rogers, a woman who has spent her whole life focused on her career in corporate law. She’s worked hard and is on track to become the youngest female partner at her firm. Besides her longtime friend and occasional fling, Alasdair, she’s sacrificed friendships and relationships to get ahead. She should be happy, but when a senior partner unexpectedly passes away, Thea realizes that the people at his funeral were only there because they had to be. It makes her question if anyone would even care if she disappeared tomorrow.

As Thea starts to rethink her life choices, she faces a tough decision: stick with her original career path or try something completely new. She starts to wonder if she can change her life and fill it with things that truly matter. But when things start looking better for her, she also feels like there’s something—or someone—she can’t quite replace.

This story is about second chances and figuring out what makes life worthwhile. This was a fun, quick, and easy read that will keep you entertained till the end but will also make you think. #TheDoOver, #Boldwoodbooks, PhoebeMacLeod
3.95 Stars!

I'm not sure why I didn't like this novel - I have enjoyed Phoebe's stories in the past.

I think maybe the main character giving up being a junior partner so early in the book might have been part of the problem? I also think her being on and off with the male love interest from the start made the story predictable? I'm not sure what exactly my problem was.

I think it was interesting how she completely switched careers, but the story did not hold my attention.

Nonetheless, I will continue to read Phoebe's books.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an e-copy of THE DO-OVER to review.

I rate THE DO-OVER three out of five stars.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Thea Rogers is a young attorney , dedicating her life to her job, and her desire to become partner at the prestigious law firm where she works. Thrilled to be promoted to junior partner, she has little time to revel in her success until a senior partner dies, Realizing the peopler at his funeral are there because they have to be, she begins to question her life and if it's what she really wants anymore. When a deal goes off-track, she decides she's had enough, and quits with no game plan for employment on the horizon. She moves back in with her parents, and begins to figure out what life she really wants to live. This is touted as a rom-com, but while there is some romance in it, I would tag it more as a "personal growth" story, as Thea pivots and goes for will make her happy. I would give this a little over a 3 star rating, as it wasn't quite as good as I had hoped, but still was enjoyable.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an unbiased review.

I wanted to like this book. I really did. I read the little blurb on the back, and thought it might be a sweet, finding yourself style story, like the novel equivalent of Hometown Cha Cha Cha for all my K-Drama lovers. Unfortunately, this book was just boring. I give it 2/5 stars (rounded up) for premise and potential, because with editing (and a goddamn active voice) this book could have been wonderful.

This book is a textbook example of telling vs showing. Prologue Thea tells us why she became a high powered lawyer, rather than letting the reader figure it out on their own through the character’s actions. The premise is that she has a quarter-life crisis and leaves her high-powered job to start something completely new and unexpected, and yet, the set-up takes forever and nothing actually happens for the first 23%, which is about when Thea has a pivotal dream that influences her big decision. Rather than show the reader the dream, once again, the author simply has Thea tell her friend what it was over brunch.

I found myself skimming huge sections of the book, just waiting for something, anything to happen. But whenever anything did happen, it was either off-page during a time skip, or explained in exposition from one character to another. I finished the book, but only barely.

Things I loved: Alisdair, the only character with personality. Pre-crisis Thea - wish me got more of her hard-ass energy tbh. Thea and Rebecca’s parking spot rivalry

Things I didn’t: Pretty much everything else. This was the most boring book I’ve read in a while, and I love slice of life, character studies. But this just fell flat, in the worst way.

Perfect for fans of: Old mills, technical jargon, long meandering stories with no real climax

This was a light and quick read. A nice books to pick up and feel light alongside reading.
But I did feel the topic and storyline could've and perhaps should have been longer, more in depth. Because it was so warming I could have invested more to it. And in not having this it ended up feeling a little too rushed and flipped through some of the subject matter.
But having not read any of the authors books before this could be her style. And if that's the case then actually I'm all for it. As sometimes these books totally have a place on my bookshelf and are a set I love to pick up and snuggle down to at certain moments and moods.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion. I've noticed this book so far has a fair few ratings 3 & under, I would look beyond that and give it a chance. Its labelled rom.com, which I think it just about can get away with that, for me this was more a book about second chances.

Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Phoebe MacLeod for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute book, easy read but not one that had me very invested. Thea was equally great and frustrating. I enjoyed seeing her grow outside of being a lawyer - learn to connect with her family and build friendships.

Thea is married to her job as a lawyer- it is literally her personality. She has a co-worker/friends with benefits but other than that, just work. After seeing a senior partner in the firm pass away and have very few significant personal relationships to show for it Thea finds herself lacking her unwavering dedication to her work.

After a while, she finds herself resigning much to everyone’s shock. Soon, her neighbor and Thea team up to flip a fixer upper only they end up with more than they expected.

I didn’t understand how quickly she can start/stop/adjust feelings for people and the romance if it all felt very much an afterthought.

Closed door.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I've read a lot of Phoebe Macleod books, and I love her style of writing! I was really loving where this one was going, but about halfway thru it felt like a different story and I wasn't sure where it was going anymore. I really loved Alasdair and the scenes with him and Thea together, wish there had been more of that! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!!

Is there more to life than your job?
That is what main character, Thea, has to decide.
The plot was interesting though a bit confusing.
There is a little romance in the story. Nothing major though.
All in all, I did laugh out loud a few times and enjoyed reading The Do-Over.

Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed this book.

I loved the characters, and Thea who finally realizes that what the job she’s doing isn’t really that satisfying.

The story kept me hooked and the twist, I did not see coming.

I recommend this book.

Thea is a successful lawyer who lose faith in her career and takes a change of direction. The book is a light hearted romcom, quite readable. Good for the beach.

The Do-Over follows Thea Rogers, a corporate lawyer who’s dedicated her life to her career, aiming to become the youngest partner at her firm. But when a senior colleague dies and she sees how few truly care, Thea starts questioning her own life choices. Faced with a stark realization about her lack of close relationships, she decides to reassess her priorities and take a new path, searching for a life filled with meaning, family, and genuine connections. This leads her to wonder if she can really change—and if the life she’s always wanted is still within reach.

An absolutely wonderful story of transformation, healing, finding oneself, and true love. Thea has been on a very specific career and life trajectory since a childhood experience shifted her priorities. But now, as an adult and well on her way to achieving her dreams, everything suddenly seems hollow. I loved Thea's journey in this book - and especially loved the kooky characters she met along the way. An all-around fantastic feel good novel, perfect for those who sometimes wonder what if they completely changed their life.

After a tumultuous childhood, Thea has dedicated her life to being a corporate lawyer.
She’s put all her time into becoming the firms youngest female partner instead of cultivating friendships and relationships, with the exception of her ‘colleague and long-time friend-with-benefits Alasdair’.

The unexpected death of a senior partner makes her rethink her life, when the only attendees at his funeral are his colleagues. She’s hit with a dilemma - follow the trajectory she’s worked towards and end up like him, or take a completely new path and fill her life with new people and experiences.

So I’m starting this with a disclaimer I’m kind of over contemporary romances where the FMC has a successful high powered career at the start of the novel but lacking in a personal life (no friends or dating life etc) - work is their ‘life’. She then meets, or starts a relationship with, the MMC and realises there’s more to life than work and decides to scrap the career she’s worked her whole life towards. We leave her at the end of the book doing a more ‘wholesome’ job and leaving the corporate world behind. Please can we scrap the narrative that women can’t concurrently have successful corporate jobs and a successful love life. I just want one novel where she gets the guy, but also gets to keep the job she’s worked her entire life to get.

I understand she felt at an impasse with her job and life, that her colleagues passing made her have an epiphany that she didn’t want to live a life like his. But she loved her job before- she was happy about the promotion. I just don’t see her quitting her job out the blue (granted she did give it a few months) because the spark wasn’t there anymore.

I did however enjoy her journey of rediscovery with her new friend Rebecca. I really enjoyed the sections of the book that focused on her building that friendship and setting up a new life based on connections - this was where the book showed it strengths. The fact that they took a shared interest and turned it into a career for both of them - something they were actually passionate about.

In contrast, the romance plot seemed kinda shoehorned into the last quarter of the book. In my opinion the trajectory of the plot would’ve been far more impactful if it solely followed her journey of self discovery and finding out what she wanted from life. If it focused on the friendships she made and her reflections on what she learned without a romance plot shoved in at the end. We didn’t really see the MMC at all throughout the novel so her decision that he’s what she was looking for seemed to subvert her entire journey of finding herself.

ARC copy provided by Boldwood Books & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.]

Thea Rogers has spent her professional life climbing the corporate ladder at one of London's most prestigious law firms. As the youngest female partner in the firm's history, she should feel accomplished - but after attending a colleague's funerals he starts questioning everything.

This book isn't quite what the synopsis suggests. While it's marketed as a romantic comedy, it's neither romantic nor funny. Instead of a reflective "what if" journey, Thea impulsively quits her job with no plan and dives into a new venture inspired by reality TV - an idea from her new friend, Rebecca,

The first half of the story introduces an ambitious, logical protagonist but by the second half, Thea seems lost and easily influenced. Instead of using her newly found free time to explore hobbies or volunteer, she follows her impulsive new friend, even when she doesn't feel confident in the decisions.

It also doesn't feel like a romance. The love-interest is reintroduced close to the end of the book, and while he declares his love for Thea, her reciprocation never feels genuine. Prior to this, Thea talks about how attractive she finds another man, even making the point that she finds this new man significantly more attractive than the one she ends up with). Thea's romantic relationship felt rushed, confusing, and if I'm being honest, unnecessary for the story.

It's a quick read that unfortunately feels like two disjointed stories. It also lacked character growth. Thea wanted more from life than work, but it doesn't feel like she truly achieves that - she just swaps one job for another. This story begins strong, but as Thea's journey unfolds, it loses direction, mirroring the protagonist's own uncertainty.

The Do-Over started off with a bang. I enjoyed Thea in the first half of the book. She was making her way to the top of a prestigious law firm becoming the youngest partner. She spends her days and most nights working with some fun spent with her "friend" Alasdair. When Thea attends the funeral of a coworker she can't stop thinking about that all of her life revolves around work and makes a rash decision that changes her life. The second part of the book was a slower pace. I felt that Thea in the second half was a different person. Her strong will was gone, she second guessed everything. The whole George thing felt out of place. The ending wrapped everything up all nice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC of The Do-Over by Phoebe MacLeod for an honest review.

Sorry but I had to DNF at 15%. It wasn't bad but I was just so bored. The writing is good though so I might pick up another of her books.

I really enjoyed this book, though there were a few things that had me scratching my head.

Firstly, I'm not sure I'd call it a rom-com. There wasn't enough of the rom, nor the com, for that title. It was a fun contemporary fiction story, easy to read and kept my interest the whole way through.

Thea's personality does a bit of a dramatic change. I get that was kind of the point of the story, but there wasn't much of the old Thea in the second half of the book. I would have expected a bit of "regression" so to speak of the old Thea in some of her behaviour.

The romantic elements were a little flat for me, but maybe that's because I was expecting a rom-com and there wasn't much of it at all for most of the book.

That being said, I really liked the writing, and will look up more of the authors work. This was the first I'd read of hers.