Reach for the Stars by Maxine Morrey ⭐⭐⭐⭐

After a slow burn, it was a light cozy small town romance.
The characters are very likeable, easily to be friends with.

Can't wait to discover more books from Maxine, as this one was my first.

Reach for the Stars by Maxine Morrey completely charmed me. I went into it expecting a light, cozy read, but it ended up hitting me right in the feels. It’s one of those books that pulls you in so quickly, you forget about everything else for a while—and honestly, that’s exactly what I needed.

The story follows Felicity, who’s having the absolute worst time. Her fiancé dumps her for someone else (and marries her in a wedding Felicity paid for), and after drowning her sorrows in one too many drinks, she impulsively buys a rundown farmhouse in the countryside. It’s supposed to be her fresh start, but when she arrives, it’s more like a disaster zone. Things spiral from there—storms, trees falling through the roof, and so much mud. Enter Jesse, her grumpy, too-good-to-be-true neighbor who reluctantly helps her piece her life (and her house) back together.

I loved Felicity. She’s messy, stubborn, and so relatable. I’ve definitely had moments where I’ve felt like everything was falling apart, so seeing her find her way again was really satisfying. And Jesse? Ugh, he’s the dream: kind, dependable, and a little rough around the edges. Their slow-burn romance was everything I wanted—sweet, funny, and so natural. Even though it’s a closed-door romance, the chemistry between them was perfect.

What really made this book for me, though, was the small-town vibe. The neighbors, the gossip, the sense of community—it was all so comforting. The side characters weren’t just filler; they felt like real people, and I loved how they rallied around Felicity when things got tough. It gave the story such a warm, feel-good energy.

If I had one tiny complaint, it’s that the ending wrapped up a little too quickly. After such a great buildup, I would’ve loved a few more chapters to spend with these characters. But honestly, that’s more of a “me not wanting to let go” problem than a real issue with the book.

This story was just so lovely. It’s funny, heartwarming, and full of those little emotional moments that stick with you. If you love small-town romances with messy-but-lovable characters and a focus on personal growth, you’re going to adore this one. I know I did, and I can’t wait to read more from Maxine Morrey.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for letting me read this one early—it’s a book I’ll be recommending to everyone!

I really enjoy this book. It feels like a Hallmark movie
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the book

This is such an uplifting and funny small town romance! I absolutely adore it. I laughed out loud so many times because of both the outrageously silly situations and the banter of the characters. This book is a true heart warmer. It reads quickly and easily plus it can make any reader smile from the start to the end.

Felicity (Fliss), a true London city girl, finds herself living in the English country side after her ex-fiancee dumbs her right before the wedding. What better revenge than to sell the flat, buy a house in the country and discover the house is falling apart (and apparently she now owns chickens)? Felicity’s whoas get worse from here and the craziest situations begin. I was engaged the moment I read the opening scene!

Then there is Jesse. He is the absolute sweetest! He is much calmer (and level headed) at times. He offers help to Felicity with her crumbling house. But my favorite part is when he banters with her and helps with her moments of spiraling. I found it entertaining every time he reined her back in from her moments of stubbornness. Definitely swoon worthy moments!

Both Felicity and Jesse are smart, stubborn (at times), determined and even have trust issues with others. They have pasts they find difficult to share. They fight hard and they love hard.

Overall, this is a good read! The opening alone had me laughing at the entire situation! I absolutely love this rom-com & recommend adding it to the TBR pile. It is perfect for reading now or later, just make sure to give it a read!

I was not familiar with Maxine Morrey's previous works so I was not sure what to expect. I was intrigued by the premise of this book. I am very happy that I read this book. This is a fun rom-com that is Close Door romance (which I greatly appreciated).

I will definitely be looking for other works and future releases by Morrey.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
1 like

Maxine Morrey has found herself a new fan!

This was such a sweet, cozy, fun, warm and really funny read. When your life turns upside down and there is nothing else you can do but start over, where do you go and what do you do? Well like Feliciy you up and leave and get yourself a nice country farmhouse. But, since the stars have it out for you, the farmhouse comes with so much work and it is definitely not what you thought it would be. With the help of the locals and perhaps a love interest Felicity will regain faith in life, love and learn how strong and resilient she really is.

A great book, with wonderful characters and such a beautiful read. If you feel like reaching for a great book, make sure to Reach For The Stars!

A lovely book to read on a winter's day and this one really hit the spot. I loved these types of books especially this time of year as you are so busy getting ready for the big day. This is a beautiful book to loose yourself in. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I LOVE a good "hide from a break up in a run down county house" trope, and this did not disappoint!

Of course what is one to do with a run down farmhouse, except accept help from the hottie next door, and when the roof collapses we move into the forced proximity trope - sigh - and our love story is off to the races.

I love a good small town romance, and the whole fixer-upper is just another fun way to represent the way Felicity starts to rebuild her heart.

“i came here and i found everything i was missing.”. Swoon.

Its giving Tessa Baily Castle Sisters vibes, and I LOVED it

Felicity’s ex-fiancée and her new wife are all over the glossy magazines, with their wedding and their perfect life. She just lost her job and she ends up draining her sorrows home shopping. Without thinking she ends up with a ruined country farmhouse that needs a lot of help, help she refuses to take by her handsome neighbor, Jesse.
What is a city girl to do in the country? With no job, a broken heart, and a broken house?
It’s a funny rom-com in a small-town setting, where Jesse is the kindest neighbor always ready to give a helping hand.

When a City girl Felicity relocates to the country she lands with a resounding bump! She soon finds out that she has taken on more than she expected but the local community rally round to help. A heartwarming read.

Beautiful book. This is a new author for me but I’ve enjoyed this taste of her voice. Looking forward to more! Characters are solid, could use more originality or depth. Plot was promising and intriguing, could be refined a bit more. The love was very much a reach for the stars vibe- so cute!

This was an enjoyable read. Poor felicity goes through the wringer and ends up finding the best life for her. Jessie is swoon worthy from the beginning.

Enjoyable read. Loved learning Jessie and Felicity’s backstories.

Would have loved more about their love story!

I love a @scribbler_maxi book and this has been an utter gem to curl up and devour. Felicity has had her heart broken, she unfortunately has her exes wedding with his new wife all over glossy magazines.

On top of this, Fliss is in the countryside and has a farmhouse to renovate. Morrey has taken me on a journey through this one. I definitely need to meet a Jesse. What a gem!!

This is a book that will definitely have you laughing out loud. I couldn’t put this down and found that it definitely takes you on a journey.

This is full of characters you can’t help but love. Morrey has a real talent for making her characters seem real everyday people.

I’ve read a few books by this author. They definitely get better and better. This is a firm favourite of mine and I have no hesitation in recommending this.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

My Thoughts :
We meet Felicity, having been dumped by her Fiance and losing her job as an Interior designer all around the same time, she takes pity on herself and gets very drunk one night.
This results in her putting her flat up for sale and buying a Cottage in the country called Paradise Farm.
When Fliss arrives at the new Cottage, it certainly isnt Paradise as it stated in the name. It is very run down and needs a lot of work to make it livable.
Fliss gets to work on the Cottage by getting some wood from the local DIY shop, where she knocks her new neighbour Jesse over by accident.
When a storm damages the roof of the Cottage, Fliss has no option but agree to Jesse’s offer of help.
With the help of Jesse and the locals, they all get to work helping Fliss get back on her feet.
Will Fliss, being a city girl allow herself to love again or has she been burnt enough and is not interested in a country boy!?.
There was an obvious chemistry from the off between Fliss and Jesse and it was nice to see their relationship develop throughout the book and learn of their back stories.
Maxine Morrey has always been one of my go to Authors as I really enjoy her books and romantic stories, this one was no different.
Looking forward to more soon.

A heartwarming book about starting over in life. Fliss leaves her posh city life behind after a massive faux pax at work. In a drunken moment she buys a house in the country only to find it’s a fixer upper once she arrives. A massive storm topples a tree on the house and she has to accept a strangers help to build a new life. A true rom com. And a great one!

Reach for the Stars by Maxine Morrey is a good read, and I've had a great time while reading it. It's cute, it's funny, and about a struggling and stubborn fmc + mmc wanting to help and take care of her.

It’s about Felicity, a city girl who’s having the WORST time ever — like, her ex-fiancé is all over social media flaunting his new life, and she just lost her job... so she decides to buy a rundown farmhouse in the middle of nowhere on a whim. Life has already thrown a LOT on her way.

Enter Jesse Woods, a dependable, hot, helpful and super kind man that not only does he save her (literally, when her roof caves in), but he is also determined to show her the upsides of the small town life, the great people in the community that will surround her and he shows her that life can have ups and downs but it's worth rebuilding it after heartbreak, which is a lesson they learn together.

I loved Jesse's story, his kindness and Felicity's resilience. This book is sweet, filled with small-town charm, banter, and all the feels. The only thing I felt missing was maybe having Jesse's POV. I feel like that would've enrichen the story so much more, because he had a really touching backstory that I wish we could see it from his side, and watching them together with that same approach.

When Felicity attempts to drown the sorrow of seeing her ex-fiancé and his new wife’s magazine-worthy wedding all over social media, she makes a bad decision that ends in her losing her job. Force to renovate a run-down farmhouse that she purchases without seeing, she finds herself needing all the help she can get. Fortunately, the owner’s brother Jesse Woods, provides not only his handyman skills but a reason for Fliss to think that love is possible.
Whilst slow to start, Jess and Fliss do make for a sweet couple. I found Jessie to be an interesting character but didn’t feel that enough time was given to his development. A closed-door romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.


Fun story with relatable characters. I smiled from the disintegrated hazmat suit to the Caro at the wedding. I don't think I felt this connect to a group of characters in a book like this in a long time

Felicity’s life has been tough. But when she lost her job, her fiancée uses their wedding to marry someone else surely it has to be the end of it. Far from the true. She ends in a little village with a property in a really bad shape. But meeting handsome Jesse can help find herself, made new friends and find the love of her life. A great story from a great storyteller, Máxime Morrey is awesome.

Reach for the Stars wasn’t a bad book. It has a lot of good points but, if I am completely honest, there was too much happening for such a short book.

This book is less than 300 pages but so much happens in that short page count. You have Felicity, who drunkenly buys a rundown house in the country after her ex gets married to someone else and, after a tree crashed on it during a storm, she is “forced” to move in with gorgeous Jesse and they fall in love. If the book had just been that basic story, it would have been fine but then Morrey adds in Jesse’s wife dying because of someone who then happens to be related to someone Felicity used to know, and it all gets a little bit convoluted.

I did like Felicity and Jesse together in the beginning but so much happens that I didn’t really care by the end. The part near the end where they constantly argued and broke up wore me down and when a story does that, it makes me lose interest in the main couple because I don’t see them lasting. It takes me out of it, to be honest.

Reach for the Stars was a fine read but it just didn’t hit the spot for me. I enjoyed the story at the beginning but I had lost interest by the end. Felicity and Jesse were cute but they couldn’t carry a whole story so when more and more started to get in the way of the relationship, I stopped caring.