DNF. I got to 60% and it turned into a completely different weird story. I thought I would make it to the end but just couldn’t

This novel follows Thea Rogers, a driven corporate lawyer on the brink of making partner. When a colleague’s funeral leaves her questioning her life choices, she’s faced with a dilemma: stick to her ambitious path or risk it all for a more fulfilling life. Thought-provoking and heartfelt, this story explores whether we can truly change and what it means to live a life filled with purpose and connection. Perfect for anyone who’s ever questioned if they’re on the right path.

The Do-Over is a lovely, easy read that is full of wholesome characters and an endearing storyline.

Although I did enjoy this read, It just felt as though there was a little something missing for me, however, that is my own personal preference. I'm sure others will love this book.

Absolutely brilliant, loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending.

The Do Over follows Thea as she suddenly quits her job as a partner in a law firm following a senior partners death. She befriends a single mom neighbor and together, the friends embark on house flipping. This was more about lawyering and water mills than romance. The romance came in at the very end and was covered very quickly. I wouldn’t say this was a comedy either. I would call this a cozy, slow women’s fiction. I personally didn’t find it all that interesting and thought Thea was more interesting as a lawyer. This is a pass from me.

Thank you Boldwood Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Let me start by saying this isn’t really a romance novel, rather it’s a story about friendship and finding yourself. Our heroine is trapped in an intense job with wealth she has no time to appreciate, and after an event makes her reevaluate things, she starts to make changes. There is a bit of romance in this book, but it’s more on the fringes. It’s a great book for when you don’t want anything mentally or emotionally taxing, but still want a HEA. It didn’t really grip me, but I don’t regret taking the time to read it either

I just want to say thank you very much to the author and netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book I really appreciate it.

I didn't mind this book, but I had a lot of issues with it. I could get through it, it was an easy enough read but that's about it. Which is why I gave it a 4 (technically a 3 and a half) no spelling errors no continuation errors so I rounded up to a 4. But honestly that is really what it has going for it. The characters are forgettable, they beginning 1/3 was great but after that it completely fell. The bit with the one character as I don't want to spoil anything, seemed forced and unnecessary. Technically I know it must have been needed for this big other reveal (which also fell really flat) but it just made it annoying because you knew where it was going for sure after that and it just felt really pointless and kind of wrecked the rest for me.

It also seemed really pointless for her to have been a lawyer. She realistically could have been anything and it wouldn't have been such a bother. But I kept waiting for it to matter throughout the rest of the book to potentially solve a problem but it didn't it didn't come into play at all and that sucked it's like oh well new identity forget all you read prior. Also the ending I feel like there wasn't much there just like hey we're done now heres a little extra but nothing really wrapped up it just felt like oh here extra i did it.

Someone else commented that it reminded them of undomestic goddess and honestly yes I can completely see that. That though had characters to love, the actual use of her previous skills later and slow noticeable growth in character well this was all or nothing all at once. No offense if I could choose to read one again it would be Sophie Kinsellas not this one.

Now I sound mean I don't mean too but for someone who likes books that feel like a romcom hallmark/ Netflix Christmas movie without the Christmas you'll love this, but it's just not for me. Thank you so very much again for the opportunity to read this book I really appreciate it.

A really lovely read, I truly enjoyed this book. I was really interested in the complete about turn that Thea made with her career but thought seeing her life change in such a positive way was amazing. I would recommend this book and love this author’s writing style.

The Do-Over by Phoebe Macleod fell a bit flat for me. The plot moved at a glacial pace, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. While the premise held promise, the story lacked the spark needed to bring it to life. The characters felt one-dimensional, and their journeys didn’t pull me in as much as I’d hoped. I wanted more depth and development to make the read more compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

This was a wonderfully read full of humour and interesting characters, perfect for a day in with a blanket and a warm drink! The writing style flows brilliantly, I devoured this in a day!

I enjoyed the novel for its readability and steady narrative. The plot moved along nicely and nothing felt contrived or awkward despite the big changes portrayed. Other than the main character who had her own internal battles to face, the other characters felt a little thin. Nice touches with Thea's family (who seemed to be able to accept extra people in their home rather easily).
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this title.

In "The Do-Over" by Phoebe MacLeod, I appreciated several aspects, particularly the strong themes of friendship, rebuilding family ties, and the protagonist's determination to pursue a life she truly desires. However, I felt the story could have been more profound, and the book's first quarter left me uncertain about its direction. Thea, the female main character (FMC), is a groundbreaking figure as the youngest woman to become a partner at a prestigious London law firm. Yet, she soon realizes that her life revolves solely around the relentless demands of her career. Following a pivotal incident at work, she leaves her old life behind and escapes to the countryside. While I would have liked to see the romance develop more thoroughly, the book delivered a lighthearted and enjoyable reading experience. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

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.

The book offers a relatable journey of self-discovery for Thea, a successful lawyer who begins to question her life’s priorities. While the setup starts slowly, it picks up as Thea re-evaluates her choices and seeks deeper connections beyond work. Her transformation feels a bit abrupt at times, moving too quickly from her career-driven life to a more balanced one, which could have been explored more gradually.

The story’s strength lies in Thea's internal struggles and her reconnection with family, which brings a warm, realistic touch. However, readers hoping for a strong romance may find it lacking, as the book leans more toward personal growth and rediscovery. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read with an inspiring message about finding what truly matters in life, even if it’s not the smoothest transition.

I enjoyed this book- I think it started brilliantly and I was quickly invested in Thea and in awe of what she had achieved, even if it was leaving her life somewhat empty. I know a lot of lawyers and it was scarily accurate! Her damascene moment at the funeral obviously led to her reassessing her life choices and I enjoyed where it took her. The diversion with George, the mill, all thoroughly entertaining and I enjoyed the ending too. I’ve read other books by Phoebe and know she is great for an entertaining and diverting read- thank you!

There were things I really liked about 'The Do-Over' by Phoebe MacLeod, the strong sense of friendships, the rebuilding of family relationships, and the steps the FMC took to pursue a life that she truly wanted, I just wanted it to feel deeper. The first 25% of the book I wasn't sure where the book was going. Thea, our FMC, is the youngest ever female to make partner at a high powered London law firm, except she realizes she has NO life outside the 24/7 buzz of law firm life. After an 'incident' at work she decides to leave it all behind and head (literally) for the country. I would have loved to have seen the romance develop more, but overall this was an easy feel good and enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

The story in this book takes a rather unexpected turn. It is about Thea, a very successful, career-driven corporate law lawyer. She’s worked very hard to get where she is and finally all the hard work payed off because she’s made partner. Then a colleague dies and she abruptly decides to quit everything; her job, the partnership, and decides to sell her newly done house, in order to move back with her parents and buy a house with her next door neighbor to renovate. It was all a bit too radical for my taste; moving in with your folks together with a new girl friend while simultaneously renovating an old mill property, which I know is a LOT of work and not something you can easily calculate when you’re not a professional.
Anyway, I gave the whole renovation project a chance. There were some twists and turns and I didn’t know if I quite liked it or not. While reading this I wasn’t sure who was supposed to be the male main character either. I liked Alasdair’s “Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess called Thea” story a lot. It summed up my assessment of Thea quite well. But in the end everything wrapped up satisfactorily. I think Alasdair was the best character in the book. He’s funny, loyal and a very good friend. The lawyer scenes and the renovation scenes were very well rehearsed, although I doubt that a lawyer can spot a good renovation project after watching some reno TV. I liked the guy Thea ended up with, so I finished the book feeling good about that.
Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for inviting me to review this book. I was happy to read and reviewed it; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Loved every minute of this book! Phoebe MacLeod's The Do-Over is a delightful romantic comedy that will leave you smiling. Thea Rogers, a dedicated corporate lawyer, finds herself at a crossroads, questioning the path she's chosen. As she contemplates a drastic change, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and rediscovery.

MacLeod's witty writing style and relatable characters make this book an absolute joy to read. Thea's transformation is both inspiring and heartwarming, and her budding romance with a charmingly flawed love interest adds an extra layer of sweetness to the story.

If you're looking for a feel-good novel that will make you laugh, cry, and swoon, The Do-Over is the perfect choice.

Unfortunately, this was not the book for me. I think this is a one-off since I have generally really liked this author.

I do not like either lead AT ALL. Both were immature, juvenile, selfish, unbearable, and severely unlikable. Also, this is not a romance. This book is about the character growth of the FMC, which was needed, but even by the end, she wasn't very likable. The MMC is basically a character never fleshed out but a paper-thin character who didn't show much of anything at all. The chemistry is also off between the leads; it just doesn't feel like they are functioning as friends, let alone as romantic partners.

The writing is strong in other areas, though, and the pacing is mostly good (except for the last 10%, when the romance is shoehorned in).

Overall, it is not the author's strongest novel, but her other works have been fabulous.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an e-book for review.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me review this book in advance. Sadly. I did not care for it.
I found all the main characters unbearable, was not my cup of tea.

3 stars! This was a fun, and quick read for me. I read it in just a few hours, and I enjoyed it. I really liked the FMC, Thea, and was proud of her for pushing herself out of her comfort zone in several ways throughout the book. I wanted her to find happiness and was rooting for her and her enemy-turned-bff Rebecca the whole time.

I will say I was left wanting a bit more romance, but I did enjoy the romantic parts of the story and I’m happy with how it ended. I just felt like the development of the relationship could have been a bigger part of the story and I would’ve liked it even more!

Overall, this was an enjoyable second chance/new beginning romance book and I would recommend!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!