I loved every second of reading this book, honestly couldn't put it down. This was just the kind of entertaining read I needed.

Three very different men, but who to choose 🤔

Penny Bridge, about to embark on a new chapter, leaving her cafe in Stuart's capable hands, to help her uncle by managing his pub/restaurant, due to ill health.

Rewind a few months, Penny's been single for five years, is looking for love without much success, raising questions with herself, why? What's wrong with me? until ...... events then unfolding from here until the day Penny met Francesco.

Fast forward, six months later.. managing/working at The Red Panda, and so it begins.... three very different men, but who to choose.

Full of humour with aromas of romance and tinges of sadness. A great light hearted read, perfect for the summer. Put time aside, you may not want to put this book down, before you've finished ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was so good! The characters were so well rounded, you felt like you actually knew them! The plot was so good you didn't want the book to end!

I really enjoyed the character of Penny. I could empathise as she tried to date in the modern world. And what I really loved about the book was that I didn’t know how it was going to end. Therefore I raced through it just to find out. I think this is a good by the pool read during the summer, where you want something light but to be entertained.

Penny Bridge gets herself into a love square, completely unintentionally. She has a love interest that has to end as her life is abruptly uprooted away from London. So she’s free to move on, and meets two other men... ⁣
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In my opinion, this book was so much better than Our Stop. It wasn’t as frustrating (if she wanted to meet him so badly, she easily could have), and it wasn’t a conventional romance either. I loved that there wasn’t just one, predictable love interest. I appreciated how it highlights how women can enjoy no-strings attached relationships, just as much as men - I’m all for female empowerment!
⁣
Penny was a complex character, and so was her life. Everything that happened was believable, and not predictable like most romance books. It was very refreshing to read!

I enjoyed this book. I immediately connected to the main character, Penny, and appreciated her journey to following her own path to fulfil her needs. On the surface, it is a love story between Penny and three lovers - each special in his own right. At its core, this is a book about self love and the powerful effect that healthy friendships and family have in one's life.

There is also a nod to feminism in this book. Penny has power in choosing between her three lovers, in building a business, and in stepping up for family, both biological and chosen. It is a modern take on female empowerment that a woman should want it all for as long as it serves her.

I recommend this book for people who like a fast paced contemporary love story with lots of drama and a modern take on HEA.

#NetGalley provided an advaced copy in exchange for an honest review.

‘The Love Square’ is the story of Penny, a chef who survived cancer at the age of 25 and, now 30, is struggling to find ‘the one.’ Her luck seems to be changing when she meets gorgeous, charming Francesco, until a family emergency sees her moving halfway across the country and into the lives of two more possible ‘ones.’
First things first, I must admit I really didn’t enjoy Laura Jane William’s debut novel, ‘One Stop.’ It just really wasn’t for me- I couldn’t get on board with the premise and never really warmed to the characters. Happily, ‘The Love Square’ hooked me in a way it’s predecessor just didn’t.
Penny is a lovely main character, and her history with cancer is depicted really effectively. Cancer related infertility is not something we talk about much, and I was pleased that LJW dealt with it so sensitively. I was pleased to read a story where cancer is in the past, and is not a tragic plot device. Her sister Clemmie is not nearly as fully fleshed out as Penny, but their relationship provides a beautiful constant throughout the story, as does Penny’s friendship with the very funny Sharon.
The story contains a number of LGBTQ+ characters (including a non-binary character) as well as several non white characters, which I was very pleased to see.
This was just the book I needed in these uncertain times- funny, poignant, warm and cheeky. I look forward to LJW’s next offering!
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this, I love this, I love this!

After loving Our Stop last year I was eagerly awaiting another novel from Laura Jane Williams.
This is full of fun, humour laughs and gasp moments. You will not be disappointed.

The Love Square is a romance but not as you know it....

I have a weird relationship with romance books. It is a fabulous genre for a bit of escapism, but, often, I find the characters two dimensional or the story falling flat.

The Love Square, however, is a book which has a lot of heart and is anything but flat. One of the standout aspects for me was that I found myself really captivated by the cast of characters. They are fully formed and messy and, above all else, human. Our main character Penny is interesting and engaging, and I found her extremely likeable even when I wanted to give her a strong talking to! 😂 The cast has fabulous diversity in every way: race, gender, sexuality, age. I am finding myself increasingly drawn to stories which normalise diversity and just let characters be themselves and I certainly found that here.

Fundamentally, this is a book about love. Yes romantic love forms a big part of that, and Laura sure does know how to write a steamy encounter, but it also deals with much weightier topics as well. It explores themes such as familial love and bonds, loss and grief, and hopes and dreams. This richness means it packs a powerful emotional punch, and it really resonated with me as a reader.

I adored reading The Love Square and heartily recommend it to top your summer reading list when it comes out in July 💕

First of all I would like to say that this isn't my usual type of book.
I did enjoy it but I found some of the storyline dragged out quite a bit.
Penny is the main character and this is a story of a part of her life.
She has her own cafe in London which she adores and although she has no family close by she is very close with them. She meets a man, starts a relationship with him then as a family member becomes poorly she has to change her plans. Some of the book I did really enjoy but I found the author felt she had to get every type of person in her book from lesbians to gays to gender none binary and although I have absolutely no problem with this I found reading about none binary to be very confusing. It could have been worded a lot better as the character was called Charlie. So where this could have read Charlie said or Charlie did, it got confusing when it says they said or did because of the previous sentence I wasn't sure if it was Charlie or Charlie and someone else together etc.
Over all I did enjoy the book.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this for my honest review

Penny Bridge hasn't been lucky in love. After a cancer diagnosis in her early 20's her long term boyfriend split, ever since then she's been focusing on her career and running her very popular cafe. When there's a fill-in for her usual bread delivery, she feels her luck changing, but maybe it's a bit too much.

The Love Square had so much more depth than I was expecting, while it does have funny moments, I wouldn't call it a rom-com. The way the tough issues were handled was well done, from the lingering side effects of cancer and treatment to infertility, it made my heart ache a little. I loved Penny's strength and courage, and her relationship with her family. Her love interests are very different from each other and I really liked what they each brought to the story. I really really enjoyed this book, while it's not as light as the synopsis suggests, it's not super heavy and dark either. It's sweet, with good characters, and at its core is really about not letting your life circumstances control the outcome, it's about taking charge and making your own happiness.

The Love Square is the perfect fictional escape! The characters were so loveable (Penny especially), the backstories were rich, and the plot was well paced enough to keep me hooked throughout. Reading it felt like being enveloped in a warm bubble, complete with crackling fires, delicious food, and the unconditional love of family members. Would thoroughly recommend for a bit of optimistic escapism!

Story 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Running a little, but popular cafe and being an amazing cook should make Penny an adult who has her life together.
But whereas she loves what she does job-like, she has really bad luck in her dating life.
Until she meets Francesco.
He’s perfect for her in every way. Until she needs to leave London and help her uncle with his restaurant.
There she realizes that even though she had the worst luck with men before Francesco, now she has several options on hand:
three, to be honest.
Three perfect, handsome man, who couldn’t be any more different.
And so chaos begins and Penny learns what it is that she <i>really wants</i> in life.

That was really, really cute and kind of a funny book.
I enjoyed it a lot and read it in just 24 hours.
It had a good pacing with some bits of drama, friendship, love, sex etc etc and all in all was really entertaining to read.

Character 🌟🌟🌟
First of all: no one in this book is perfect.
That would be weird.
But they’re perfect in their own kind of way.
Penny was strong, independent and loved her family really much. And she stayed realistic even though she could’ve dreamed a bit.
When she needed to move away, she broke things apart with Francesco, because she didn’t think a relationship with so many kilometers between them couldn’t last long. In the end they would hurt each other even more.
She paused her life plans for the sake of her family, her uncle. And even though she could’ve been sad, depressed and moody about the forced change, she learned to love it.
She grew as a person, as a cook, as a friend.
And even though she didn’t always act in the right way, she said sorry when it needed to be said.

There were many side characters that appeared in this novel and even though I’m not so sure if he’s a main or a side character, I Iiked Francesco the most.
I liked him because he treated Penny in a respectful way and told her that before he wanted to fall in love with her he wanted to fall in <i>friendship</i> with her.
And that was the cutest thing to say.
Also pretty wise.
He explained it in such a wonderful way that I couldn’t help but fall in love.
And ship them so hard.
I know he didn’t always acted gentleman-like, but like Penny he said sorry if it needed to be said.
All in all I liked the characters a lot and I think they pushed the story forward in their own kind of way.

Relationships 🌟🌟🌟
Penny is a grown independent woman who does not need a man.
Or three.
Or maybe she wants a man? But which one?
They’re all so perfect in their own kind of way...
Whereas everything is relaxed and funny with Thomas, Penny has the best sex of her life with Priyesh, but then there is also Francesco.
He respects her, is loyal and supportive and probably her best friend. Even though they needed to break things up, because Penny moved away, he still wanted to stay in contact with her. He talked to her on the phone, cooked for her, talked to her about their problems...(Can you see which one was my favorite? Haha)
All in all I really felt a connection between Penny and Francesco and I shipped them so hard. They didn’t have this easypeasy relationship, it was the exact opposite in some way. The relationship felt real filled with real life problems and emotions, anger, confusion, embarrassment.

Writing style 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The writing was definitely catching, flowing and made the book easy and fun to read.
It was written in Penny’s POV even though sometimes it changed to Francesco.
But without a note or something. It just changed in the middle and then switched back to Penny. It could’ve been confusing, but I didn’t have any problems changing my focus and the POV in my head.

All in all definitely a good book.

Fantastic book. It made me laugh it made me cry and shout at the main character in frustration for not having faith in herself.
Low self esteem in her romantic life whilst he professional life is a success, that is after the adjustment made due to illness. Not what you expect in your early twenties to face your own morality.
Don't expect a pity party in this book in any way. How can you believe that the hot guy fancies you and wants to be with you after a short time when family drama turns your life upside down for a minimum of 12 months.
Loved the previous book our stop and will be looking out for other books by this author.

This book was definitely what I needed to read right now. It's so real, and so full of love and laughter. I absolutely loved Laura's first novel, and this met all expectations. I devoured it in a few hours as I honestly couldn't put it down!

An enjoyable modern romantic comedy. They're not usually my choice of books, but I like the way Laura writes.

I have adored this book, it’s been such an easy and enjoyable read which I haven’t been able to put down.
The characters are likeable and the plot is interesting.

Laura Jane Williams' The Love Square presents a dilemma that many seekers of love would love to have - not one, not two, but three potential suitors! But, good problems are still problems, and Penny finds her heart pulled in three directions, and this is ultimately a book about female empowerment and what it means to discover what you really want.

Great for lovers of books like The Flatshare! This is a compulsively readable tale that packs an emotional punch.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book was given to me by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

This book was definitely what I needed to read right now. It's so real, and so full of love and laughter. I absolutely loved Laura's first novel, and this met all expectations. I devoured it in a few hours as I honestly couldn't put it down!


Would love to read more of her writings

“The Love Square” is a fast paced read, which is the perfect antidote to the time period where most of us are social distancing. The novel focuses on Penny, who like many of us, just cannot win at the dating game. Yet, as the novel progresses, Penny finds herself interested three different men, all of whom have feelings for Penny—hence, the love square. The reader experiences the high and lows of developing relationships with these three men and joins in the debate of who might come out the winner.

But if you think the novel is simply a romantic comedy, it is much more. Penny is a chef who has lost both parents and survived breast cancer. Due to treatment, Penny went into menopause and would not be able to have children, if Penny hadn’t harvested and frozen some of her eggs pre-treatment. The book does not gloss over what it means to be a cancer survivor and because of Penny’s strength, the reader cannot help but wonder if a man is what Penny really needs. (No spoilers, but remember this book is touted as a romance).

Not only does the author do an excellent job in developing Penny, but creates supporting characters with plenty of diversity. Penny’s main familial support comes from her sister and her uncle. In fact, I liked these characters (and companions, Sharon and Charlie) much more than the three love interests: Francesco, Thomas, and Priyesh.

While I would not consider this novel light-hearted, it does leave you with warm fuzzies at the end and is great “escape” literature. I was not familiar with Laura Jane Williams, but I will be curious to check out her debut novel, “One Stop.” Three and a half stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

I really, really liked this! I'm a fan already of Laura Jane Williams, as I read "Our Last Stop" last year. I didn't put this down and I read it in a day.

Penny Bridges is 30, a small business owner, a sister, niece and friend - but she wants love, and a family. She's used to having no luck with dating, but over the course of the year her luck changes. After meeting someone special, her life is uprooted and all changed. As she adapts to her new climate, she meets not one, but two more potential suitors, and suddenly what was once a lacklustre love life is the opposite.

The characters in this are extremely well-written, to the point I can vividly see them - hard to achieve but essential to a brilliant story. I thought the love story was exceptionally feminist and modern and I enjoyed the dialogue. I related to Penny perhaps a little too hard (I wish I owned my own business) and I really think Laura Jane Williams put a great deal of love into these characters and it shows.

10/10 would recommend and I'll always read her work!

This book was super cute. I love Penny’s closeness with her sister and their video podcasts. Also she started so unlucky in love with guys ghosting her. I think everyone can relate to that.

I enjoyed her relationship with all three guys. Especially Francesca who was so understanding to her and everything she’s been through. And why not, sometimes it’s good to have a bit of fun. She’s strong and independent.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is not my usual genre, I’m more of a crime/thriller reader however this story intrigued me. I absolutely loved it, truly one of the best books I have read. I am extremely pleased and grateful to both for opening up my mind to something totally different.

I am not usually a fan of more than one love interest but this story made me change my view on it. It was beautifully crafted with the choices so vast and all so alluring that it was difficult to choose one.
It is a good romance read, especially when stuck in the indoors with quarantine. It keeps you engaged till the end and plot is good paced.

Finding a decently written romance that reflects the complexities of our lives is becoming slightly easier to find. Among them sits The Love Square that initially starts off with the possibility of love but is more to do with feeling displaced and out of control of one’s life.

In the depths of Stoke Newington, London lives Penny, a talented chef who runs her own cafe, whose life is turned upside down when her uncle falls sick and is forced to shoulder the responsibility of running his pub restaurant in Havingley, a village in Derbyshire. In the midst of what she hopes to be a temporary life change are the three men she meets along the way – Francesco, Thomas and Priyesh. Spending time with each man, Penny realises that this isn’t who she is or what she wanted in the first place and comes to terms with what she truly wants, as well as with whom.

Pleasantly surprising, The Love Square holds some of Beth O’Leary’s The Flat Share vibes partly due to it being based in London with a refreshing shift to the Derbyshire hills bringing it an earthy experience where Penny gets in touch with nature. As the novel progresses, however, it becomes apparent that she’s not the same woman we meet in the beginning who thrives on being in the capital, a place she feels she belongs and can be the best version of herself. The book is frank and emotionally honest about Penny’s past pain. She’s clearly strong in spite of losing her mother, being deserted by her father as well as surviving breast cancer at 25. Yet her self-confidence wavers when it comes to love due to her poor experiences with men and she wonders if she’ll ever be able to find a lifelong, supportive companion.

You could be forgiven for thinking this is going to be a hilarious comedy of errors – after all, being caught between three men at the same time is a recipe for disaster of colossal proportions. Yet this isn’t a funny story as Penny appears to use men as a distraction from the truth and undergoes some serious introspection to understand herself better. That’s not to say the men in her life are entirely negative influences. Thomas’ sense of adventure allows her to go out of her comfort zone and explore the surrounding wilderness, Priyesh is attentive, sweet and kind, while Francesco has a lot in common with her. The choice she ultimately makes is one that’s best for the life goals she holds in mind. Between the three men, I don’t think I preferred any of them strongly enough – Thomas is a little one-dimensional and superficial, Priyesh comes off too eager and Francesco, towards whom I was initially inclined, is judgemental and unfair to Penny. It seems slim pickings for a short while until Penny realises she needs to be her true, authentic self before she can choose a man.

Away from Penny’s drama, Laura Jane Williams has seamlessly written numerous LGBTQ+ friends and family into the storyline who provide her with the loving stability and enable her to eventually find her feet. The close bond between herself and her sister, Clementine, is heartwarming while the banter her friend Charlie provides is the source of some comic relief. Between the men and the temporary displacement, Penny isn’t merely caught between a romance of who she wants but also where she wants to be. Ultimately, Penny ends up making the decisions she wants instead of what the men want her to do and finds herself in control of her life again.

The Love Square is a satisfyingly light, feel-good fiction with some honest soul-searching beyond a typically disastrous romance. It’s fast-paced and doesn’t dwell too much on emotional angst but still offers some depth in allowing characters to realise their full potential by refocusing, knowing what they want and standing up for it. Amidst all of this, what it quite wonderfully offers is that none of this can be possible without a support network of family and friends that help Penny achieve her dreams.

The Love Square follows the story of Penny, a thirty year old cafe owner who can't seem to find a relationship since her boyfriend, Mo, left her 5yrs ago. The story starts as Penny is leaving her lovely behind to go to the countryside to run her uncles restaurant, leaving her very new relationship in tatters - flashback to three months before when a chance bread delivery brings about the gorgeous Francesco who leaves Penny his number, but Penny is convinced that she is unloveable and decides to put him out of her mind, until a month later when she meets him again. We follow Penny's relationship with Francesco developing, but its stopped in it's tracks by Penny's uncle taking ill, and Penny stepping up to help with the family business, So, breaking up with Francesco, Penny drives into the sunset, but not before seeing something that crushes her fragile heart even more...

I absolitely adored The Love Square, it was refreshing and funny and didn't shy away from the often funny sights of sexual relationships - I loved how Penny went about her life, she was great and the love square was fantastically done - though I could see the very inevitable car crash tv part coming head on.

Perfect summer read; read it in one sitting!

I loved this book, got me over a reading block.

It tells the story of Penny who owns her own cafe in London and meets a new man just as she has to go and help her Uncle run his pub and restaurant for him after he has a heart attack. She puts her life on hold to help him out but ends up spoilt for choice for male company. She meets an older man who is great in bed and a person from her childhood who is great company and great fun but not around much as he is travelling for work and the reappearance of new boyfriend from London.

She happily enjoys all their company and has to decide which man is for her.

I am a fan of Laura Jane's work from her instagram posts to her last novel, Our Stop - she really does know how to construct a story and I'm a sucker for good romantic fiction but boy, do I feel inferior to her characters! Sometimes I feel as if they have almost *too* multidimensional...the main protagonist is a cancer survivor, their mum died when they were younger a successful business owner AND considering becoming a single mum through IVF - they kinda make me feel like I haven't achieved much...sThe male characters are well written and whilst sometimes a bit earnest, don't we all want a man like any of them featured in this book - it's escapism isn't it?! All that said, I did really enjoy this novel and would recommend it to other readers - the story was interesting enough to keep my attention and I read it really quickly! I would definitely read more from Laura Jane :)

I’ve been eyeing up this book for a while I won’t lie. 😂 I really enjoyed OUR STOP last year so I had high hopes for this knowing that I enjoy William’s writing. It’s fun, witty with poignant and heartfelt moments. And thankfully, that’s what I got with THE LOVE SQUARE. I flew through this book! It’s really easy to read, has very lovable characters and great settings. Trendy coffee shops, cozy pubs, and even a celeb makes a cameo. 🤩 No spoilers but it’s epic! 😎

The plot is fun. I love the idea of a love square. Penny is single and unlucky in love (aren’t we all...Oh just me? Okay 😆) and then she meets a wonderful man. Then another and then another. Hence the square! But are any of them THE ONE?!! Does the course of love ever run smoothly? Nope. Is life picture perfect? Nope. Is it best just to accept our imperfect humanness and be thankful for what we have??Absobloodylutely! 💃🏼

I’m a fan of contemporary fiction and I need it right now. I love nothing more than feeling my heart swell up with happiness and joy. At the same time, I like drama and for the characters to have depth, be flawed and authentic. Williams writes about infertility, grief and illness so openly and with compassion and sensitivity. And the characters? I applaud the way Williams writes such diverse, real and relatable characters. Penny Bridge is strong, independent and definitely grew as a person through the book. Her friends and family are supportive, kind and really compliment the essence of the story. Oh and I may have liked some of the sexy male characters too...ahem. 😏

THE LOVE SQUARE is a refreshing, modern “feel good” story of romance, hope, and trusting in love. One to look out for this summer! ❤️

“Life is about how you handle being thrown off course, not discounting yourself from the race because you were thrown off in the first place”. Amen! 🙏

A super cute book
I loved Penny’s closeness with her sister and video podcasts.
She was so unlucky in love with guys ghosting her. Readers can relate to that.

Her relationship with all three guys I really enjoyed.
Francesca, especially who was so understanding to her and for everything she’s been through.
And why not, it’s good to have a bit of fun. She’s strong and independent.
Recommend it.

The Love Square is Laura Jane Williams 2nd fiction book after releasing her first Our Stop last year. As a writer Laura has a talent for creating characters you either like or you don't. Penny the protagonist in The Love Square is an entirely likeable and relatable character whereas some of the love interests are not. Whether that was an intentional plot device on Laura's part or it's just that as a reader there wasn't the connection, who knows?

While being a humorous read and quite light hearted, The Love Square is about self love. Having read all Laura's previous releases this is a theme she often weaves in to her stories and clearly a subject she's very passionate about.

This is a book that when you read it, you will either engage with it fully or not at all. It was more led by emotion than plot which at times made it feel like an unnecessarily heavy read in certain parts.

If you want a (mostly) light hearted read full of self love, humour, romance and fully diverse and inclusive cast of characters then you cannot go wrong with The Love Square.

I hadn’t read Laura Jane Williams’ previous acclaimed novel, Our Stop, so was really excited to dive into this read! It’s an easy book to get your teeth into, and I read it fairly quickly. The plot concerns Penny, a thirty-year old living in London with her own café. She believes she finds love in Francesco, but family circumstances lead her back to her hometown, and without Francesco. Instead, she has romances with two other men, and Penny has to choose what she wants; not just between three men, but what she wants to do with her life.

It’s a fun book, and despite the quite hetero premise has plenty of supporting characters of different sexualities: her uncle and sister have same-sex partners, and there is a colleague who is non-binary. It is these choices, and the discussion about non-monogamy, which place the book squarely in the 21st century. Though there are funny parts, the book is a lot more emotionally charge than you’d initially think, and tackles some pretty tough subjects including parental death and infertility which are handled with delicately and realistically.
I guess my only gripe would be [spoiler] that the final portion of the book feels rushed, and a little hodge-podged together to tie it up in a neat happy ever after. I don’t think in real life a man could be forgiven so easily for some of the things he says (or implies) to Penny.
Overall, a really fun story – perfect to read while lounging in the sun!

This book was a very fast-paced read with a lot of cute moments. Highly entertaining, I devoured it in one sitting.

I'm sure that 'The Love Square' wanted to convey the message of finding your true self, loving yourself unconditionally and allowing yourself to believe that you deserve good things happening to you. And I wholeheartedly love that message. It's hard to see your worth when life is tough, and just like a normal person, Penny had trouble perceiving herself as ""enough ".

Penny is such a strong woman and I loved reading her story. She lost both of her parents and she had to fight the battle against breast cancer. On top of that, she has to go through every issue that society issues on women in general. To see her finally stand up for herself and for her own happiness was liberating.

Now we know from the premise that 3 men,-not only 1 , were interested in Penny. And she handled them well, but when it all blew up on Penny, and all 3 confronted her all at once, I absolutely HATED the way she was treated. Especially the words that were thrown at her head from Francesco. It left a bitter taste in my mouth.

All in all, I enjoyed the book. I loved the message at it's core and I liked Penny a lot. It's a witty and fast-paced read. I would recommend this to readers who like their reads with a lot of emotional depth.

Oh my! That was an adventure! I never thought I would read a book in 3 days with my baby trying to sit on my head (yes he literally does that). And I'm so happy I had the opportunity to read it because it was a delicious story! (see what I did? Delicious... The main character is a chef.. No? OK. I will stop).

I enjoyed reading about Penny's adventures with men. Mostly because I never read a book about a love square. And this one was really fun. I'm glad that the author includes every type of person. You can find non-binary, gay, lesbian, even polygamist. This book is for everyone!

Thank you NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for an honest review. It was an easy read, perfect for a boring day.

Laura Jane WIlliams' last book Our Stop was one of my favourite summer reads of last year so I had high expectations of this one.

This is a fun read about finding yourself and the need to know who you are and want you want before you find someone else. This is full of life-affirming brilliant female friendships and male characters who completely go against the stereotypes. I loved that.

For me, Our Stop just about still holds the title of my favourite read by Laura Jane Williams' but if you want an enjoyable, touching read that will thoroughly take your mind off everything that's currently happening, this is one to pick up!

This romantic novel was pretty good, with an interesting premise of a protagonist who has to decide whether to follow her heart or support her family. I did find some of the characters’ motivations to be a bit questionable, but I wasn’t going into this looking for a believable storyline, just some light and heartwarming entertainment, which it provided.

The Love Square by Laura Jane Williams a five-star read that will entangle you. This one had me all of a twist, I liked Penny then I didn’t then I did and didn’t and on and on it went, until I really liked her, her struggle and past made her a real character and in the end I got why she behaved the way she did and it made me like her even more, to face one life challenge is difficult, but to then have to uproot life again just as you are finally getting back to your normal, well it would drive any of us a little crazy. I loved that this was a Love square and not a love triangle, it just added to the drama and the humour in some ways, I adored Our Stop so I had high hopes for this one and I am so glad that Laura Jane Williams didn’t disappoint, she kept up with the amazing writing and creates a wonderful story once again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC.

The Love Square follows the story of Penny, a bubbly and cheerful woman who runs a successful café in London, is an incredible chef, and seems to have everything going for her; after a harrowing battle with cancer in her 20s, Penny opted to freeze her eggs in the hope of becoming a mother someday, as due to her treatment etc she would not be able to carry a child herself. However, the sense of direction and focus that Penny initially has is entirely thrown off-track when she, by chance, stumbles across Francesco, a charming Italian cook, who completely steals her heart. However, this romance is abruptly shaken-up, after Penny takes on the responsibility of her uncle’s pub in Havingley, which is a world away from the life she knows and loves in London; Francesco and Penny are torn apart by circumstances, but Penny’s loyalties to her uncle outweigh anything else.

And thus, the main plot of The Love Square begins; Penny meets and spends time with two new men, Thomas, a young and care-free Tour Manager for Lizzo, and Priyesh, and older Wine Merchant, though Francesco is still firmly on her mind. We see Penny change, progress, and develop in character, as she finds herself deeper and deeper in the thick of an incredibly awkward ‘Love Square’. This amazing book explores all types of relationships: platonic, familial, sexual and romantic, and each character that is featured brings something unique and interesting to the story, and is fundamental to Penny’s character-development. Though on the surface, The Love Square seems to document the reality of contemporary love and relationships, in all of its messy and relatable ways, it is in fact a lot deeper than that, as all of these relationships and mishaps appear to serve the purpose of fuelling personal growth, introspection, and realigning focus and aspirations.

At times this book is incredibly funny and light-hearted, though it is simultaneously moving and emotional, and I found myself really rooting for Penny; The Love Square is a really enjoyable and heart-warming read that will certainly lift your spirits.

Laura Jane Williams’ second novel The Love Square was just the read I needed. I was able to cosy up in my reading chair and just escape. Having thoroughly enjoyed “Our Stop” I was excited to read “The Love Square” and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

The book is about Penny, Penny up until now had been pretty unlucky in love and at one point even sought out advice from a previous date as to what it was about her that lead to things not working out.

Her life takes a change when she moves to take over her Uncles kitchen, leaving London for Derbyshire. This is when things get interesting… her love life also takes a change in direction when she meets a remarkable new man… followed by another and then another.

I love the characters, and their interaction with one another.

Laura Jane Williams’ writing is infectious and entertaining, and would happily read more of her work, I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this book to anyone!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for providing a ecopy of this book to read and review.

Penny was such a fun character! I loved watching her grapple with different relationships throughout this story. A great portrayal of dating in the modern world.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the advance copy of #TheLoveSquare by Laura Jane Williams

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Penny Bridge has always been unlucky in love.

So she can’t believe it when she meets a remarkable new man.

Followed by another.

And then another…

And all of them want to date her.

Penny has to choose between three. But are any of them The One?
****
I loved Our Stop but this was even better. The characters were so relatable and I even felt It was such an honest account of every possible kind of love: romantic, familial, platonic, sexual and self - all without being too clichéd/cheesy. This was a great distraction from the outside world and hopefully, when this is released in August, this will be someone's beach read.

Penny is an independent woman, running her own successful business, she's got good friends, she's got life plans, but she's been unlucky in love. Then she meets Francesco and within weeks everything in her life turns upside down.

I loved the way this book spent as much time building the relationships Penny had with her friends and family, especially her sister, as it did on the romantic relationships. And I really fell for Penny as a character, as strong and brave and funny as she was frightened and flawed and vulnerable.

It's rare to read a book with a central romance that makes every decision, bad or good, feel so very earned and relatable. Even when the characters made mistakes, even while I was desperately begging them not to, I understood why they were making them and that depth of understanding adds a layer of connection to the characters that really engaged me in their lives.

All in all I really enjoyed it, a surprisingly deep and satisfying journey of love and friendship, and taking ownership of the (love) life you deserve.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

LJW does it again - clever, witty, insightful and full of heart. I felt so privileged to have the chance to read THE LOVE SQUARE in advance. Definitely for any fans of intelligent, feel-good romcoms!

Penny is a lovely young girl who just doesn’t know what’s wrong with her, why can’t she find lasting love like her friends and the family she so desires? She has pledged to work on her career and has a very successful café in London. After her Uncle becomes unwell, she moves to manage his restaurant in Derbyshire for a year to give him the chance to recover.

With her new life underway, Penny finds herself with not one but three lovers, all very different and each with their own unique qualities, but Penny can’t choose, and all seems to go wrong until the lovely fairy tale ending.

Throughout the book you learn of Penny’s struggles through her life, a young cancer victim, she undergoes IVF with the help of a surrogate. She has chosen to have her eggs harvested and fertilised by a sperm donor to create embryos for her future family. This looked at how this could be difficult in future relationships, any baby would be hers but not her partners and examined her concerns over this. Ultimately Penny is a strong independent woman and had already chosen to take the path to have her own family (using her embryos) which is delayed by helping her Uncle.

I really liked that Penny isn’t a superhero, she has had cancer and still suffers some aftereffects and the effects of her medications. Penny needs to rest and nap to ensure that she doesn’t become too exhausted and this felt much more real than in a lot of other books where suddenly the sufferer is better than ever and has no ill effects. She is realistic and a great, strong character who is easy to like.

I really liked the diversity of characters throughout the book, it’s a quick and fun read, perfect for beside the pool in summer. While I really enjoyed this book but felt like the ending was a little rushed and needed a bit more filling, but it didn’t ruin the enjoyment at all.

A great heartfelt story about a woman who has had a tough start the adulthood and how she can then move onto happiness... Eventually!

When Jenny and Francesco meet, it is love at first sight but when her uncle becomes ill she feels obligated to leave London to go and run his pub.
Jenny thinks she's is destined to be forever single and unlucky in all things romantic, until she meets two very different men from the village. When Francesco comes back on the scene, life for Jenny becomes a very complicated love square!

The Love Square follows Penny, a 31 year old woman who has been unlucky with love since her long-term boyfriend left her 5 years ago. After countless failed dates she finally finds the one, and then another one, and another one. Before she knows it, Penny has got herself stuck in a love square.

I really liked this, almost more than I expected I would. I won't lie though, I was expecting a light-hearted romance based on the cover and description, but in reality this was quite a heavy and emotional read too. Penny survived cancer, and lost her mum to cancer when she was younger. Her cancer has left her infertile, and this is a running theme throughout the book, her desire to have a child of her own while being unable to carry her own children. I think the infertility storyline was handled very well and with a lot of respect, although I don't have any personal experience with infertility or anyone in my life who has struggled with infertility so this could be different if you have personal experience.
I actually really disliked Francesco. At first he seemed like the perfect guy, but after a while I could no longer stand his possessiveness, his judgement about Penny moving on when they had been dating for only a few weeks. The other two love interests were fine, Priyesh was probably my favourite of the two, but Thomas was a fun guy.

Pros:
I loved the LGBT representation in this, a happily married lesbian couple, a happily married gay couple, a gender non-binary character, with none of them turned into a big deal. This was a pleasant, unexpected surprise.
I loved that Penny was her own person, she decided when she wanted a child, regardless of how her romantic life was going, and this didn't change at the end.
The writing style was very easy to read, even through difficult topics.
I loved all of Penny's people: Charlie, Sharon, Clementine, David, they all added so much fun and wisdom to the book and were who Penny should have been focussing on, rather than the three average men in her life.

Cons:
As I mentioned, I started to despise Francesco. I don't think I could have got back together with him if I were Penny after he called her a slut.
The constant references to Lizzo, while fun at first, felt a little forced and as if the author was trying to appeal to a younger audience. However, many repeated cultural references like this might not have the same impact in 5/10 years, and reduces the longevity of a book, in my opinion.

Overall, I still really enjoyed this and am glad I got to read it, and it is a solid 4 star read for me.

Overall, this was more heartwarming than I thought it would be. Penny was a lovable character who succumbed to family pressure. She had some fun flings, but ultimately got a very happy ending.
I really loved the chef-aspect of this novel, I really enjoy cooking and secretly wish to be a chef so it was really nice to live vicariously through Penny's day-to-day!
Also, cannot wait to read Our Stop. I added it to my TBR list directly after finishing The Love Square. Well done, Laura Jane Williams!
*I received a copy of this ARC ebook from Netgalley for an honest review.

After reading and enjoying the author's debut novel, I just had to give this a go. I will admit that Penny Lane as a character didn't grab me as much as the female lead in the previous novel did but this was an enjoyable story nonetheless.

I really liked Francesco and believed the incident that happens about a third way through the book was all a misunderstanding from the moment it happened. I found James very up himself and it almost felt like he was pretending to care about Penny rather than actually caring - it all seemed about him. I liked the fact that Penny got Priyesh to loosen up a little but did feel she could have handled the whole situation with all three men a little better.

I loved the family dynamic - with a deceased mother and a deadbeat father, Penny's family was her, her sister, her sister-in-law, her uncle and her uncle's husband. You could tell how close they all are and how devoted they are to each other. It was heartbreaking to read Penny's realisation that Uncle David had pretty much saved her life on countless occasions and it was now her turn to save his, even if it meant turning her back on her own business, her friends, her life in London and budding love.

I loved the ending - Penny ended up with exactly who I felt she was meant to and it was so interesting to see the dynamic change between her and the two other men as they both made an appearance here too but as something different to Penny than what they were before.

The book was emotional in places, full of humour in places but mostly just reminds us that no matter what we go through, sometimes we need to take a step back and think how our fears and worries may be impacting other people.

The Love Square is about a girl named Penny who is a chef and gets caught up in a love square with three men who comes in her life. This was a fun read and a bit emotional. Lots of family relationships, friendships, and love that will make you smile.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars for this new novel by Laura Jane Williams!

It's about a chef, Penny Bridge who's had a bit of a tough life, but is still optimistic and trying to find love. Enter amazing guy. His name is Francesco Cipolla, and he's got it bad for Penny. What happens next in their budding relationship, and will they end up together in the face of all the difficulties they come up against? Find out for yourself, it will definitely be worth it!

I enjoyed this unique story a lot, and definitely recommend it for anyone who's feeling the need for a lovely, fun, and emotional read about love of all kinds, and the choices we make in life. Penny refocuses on the things she wants in life, and her journey to getting them are truly enjoyable, and made me feel a little more understood than I have in a while. Thank you Laura Jane Williams, this story is lovely as the note you sent out to readers at the end of the book.

'The Love Square' is the sweet read you need to fall asleep thinking of, and I hope it inspires people to examine what they want as well! Now is a time for thinking and trying out those things we've been putting off for ages!

I'm very thankful to Avon Books UK for sharing an advance reading copy with me, in exchange for an honest review.

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

This was a good read, if not quite what I was expecting - which I struggled with a bit Rather than a romance with a light and humorous touch -which is what I was expecting - it was a story about friendships, with emotional depth and some real heartache involved. I loved the friendships, and particularly the fact that the story effortlessly included non-heteronormative relationships. At the same time, the characters were realistically drawn, warts and all - no pastel-colored rainbows. And I really liked the way the author dealt with the infertility storyline - compassionately and with sensitivity. However, the romance part of the book did not work for me at all. I didn't want the heroine to end up with any of the three different men involved.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

A nice, easy read. There are no massive plot twists here, but there are characters who are full of heart, dialogue that will raise a smile and exploration of serious issues.

A good, wholesome read, perfect for passing the time.

The Love Square is a story about Penny Bridges. Penny has always been unlucky in love until Francesco walks into her cafè one day.

All is going well with Francesco, he seems the perfect guy, possibly The One, until Pennys life is disrupted when her Uncle takes a heart attack and she has to move to run his restaurant.

Once Penny is settled in her new surroundings, she meets Thomas, a fun, life loving guy who explains monogamy is not his thing but he likes her and wants to have fun. Thomas is a tour manager for Lizzo so he isnt around much and since he's ok with sleeping around, Penny then in walks Priyesh, the wine merchant for the restaurant.

Penny is in a "love square", 3 guys she really likes and enjoys spending time with but what will she do? What would make her happy?

I really enjoyed certain characters in this book, Pennys friendship with Charlie and Sharon, her sister Clementine and the close bond she has with her Uncle David. You are obviously meant to be rooting for Penny and Francesco to be together but to be honest by the end of the book i found myself disliking him. There was just certain things he said and he was possessive of Penny which I just didn't like.

I thought this book would be a light hearted, funny read but it was quite emotional and heavy in parts but I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to netgalley, avon books and Laura Jane Williams for the advanced copy in exchange for a review.

Great to read a romance novel where the woman isn’t just waiting to be saved...

Loved the characters and how the story unfolded, nothing being held back to long and no awkward revelation of history.
Great story.

To anyone looking in on Penny's life from the outside, they'd think that she had the perfect life. She is a young, talented chef who runs her own cafe in London. But to Penny, her life is far from perfect. Her life lacks the fulfillment she needs, she wants to start a family. This is a constant thing she had wanted when she decided to freeze her eggs once she knew she would not be able to have babies 'the conventional way' when she was battling cancer.

Penny believes that once she finds a partner she can share her life with and start a family with, she will finally be happy. So Penny goes on dates, but instead of finding love, she is left insecure about her body and personality. Luckily for Penny, its the 21st century and she doesn't need a man to start a family and be happy. So maybe she can do this on her own?

Cue Francesco, a handsome Chef in London who meets Penny and completely hits it off with her. So Penny thinks maybe she should put off her baby plans for a little bit, to see how it works out with him. But her time with Francesco is cut short when Penny has to move to Derbyshire to help her Uncle manage his restaurant.

Once in Derbyshire, Penny is blue and misses her cafe and friends, and above all Francesco. Then she meets Thomas, a celebrity manager who shows her a new side of Derbyshire, and then Priyesh who is her Uncle's age and unlike any other man she's ever dated. Without realizing it, Penny finds herself in a love square with 3 men.

Even if you haven't experienced life in London, or dating a bunch of guys at the same time, The Love Square and Penny's life is still very relatable. Penny discusses feeling like a "bad feminist" for wanting certain things in life.

"Bloody hell, I feel like a bad feminist for wanting a bloody kid in the first place, and now I feel like a bad feminist for waiting."

This novel is a journey into a modern woman's life, who is just trying to figure out what she wants. I especially liked The love Square because of Penny's character development throughout it. She is far from perfect, but she does her best, and don't we all?

*I received this ARC from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, it was well written and engaging. I enjoyed the deeper aspect of the story with the infertility issues and the main character’s battle with cancer. However I didn’t feel the relationship between her and Priyesh it felt a bit forced and not natural - the encounter in the bathroom just didn’t fit with the rest of the novel for example. Also some of Penny’s reactions to Francesco felt a bit double standard. I didn’t enjoy it as much as Our Stop but was still a strong story. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Avon for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I am a big Laura Jane Williams fan, I thought #ourstop was one of the best books I read last year so this had a lot to live up to. ⠀⠀⠀
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But the story of Penny and her life is wonderful. I love that she wants to become a mother solo and isn't reliant on a relationship to do so. I also love that she's running a successful business on her terms after health issues. She's a kickass feminist who you'd love to be friends with.
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I read it so quickly, desperate to find out more. This is a wonderful love story not just about romantic love but about the love and support of family and friends. Funny and smart - the perfect summer read. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Thank you to @avon_books and @netgalley for the advance copy!

Penny Bridges life never feels enough for her, she feels like somethings missing. Due to being ill her priorities have changed. She finds relationships difficult She doesn’t do trust, commitment or even love as she has the outlook that she does not deserve happiness. When an unexpected family emergency occurs, Penny finds that she is being asked to keep her family’s business running even though it’s in a place, where she spent her childhood years, but away from her own life. Even though she feels unhappy, family loyalty wins. Whilst she is there she experiences every emotion imaginable and finds that there are things about herself that she doesn’t like and need addressing. After a lot of soul searching she finds what she wants and goes for it.
I loved how Penny’s character was easy to relate to and love wins out in the end. Definitely worth reading and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Will definitely reading the other book by this author

Penny Bridge hasn't had much luck when it comes to love. Then she meets Francesco, and they have an instant connection. For the next 3 weeks, things seem to be going perfectly. Until an unfortunate twist of fate means she has to leave her life in London to look after her Uncle's restaurant in Derbyshire.
Over the next 12 months, she meets not one, but TWO men who also want to date her. Thomas has a busy and exciting life working in the music industry, while Priyesh is a wine merchant who's much older than her.
Penny never expected to find herself in the middle of a 'Love Square,' but the situation forces her to confront what she really wants in life.

I really enjoyed Laura Jane William's previous book ”Our Stop” so as soon as I saw The Love Square was available on Netgalley I had to request it!

This book is very different to Our Stop. I personally thought it was better! There's less comedy, but more emotion.

I could relate a lot to the main character Penny. I was also diagnosed with cancer in my 20s, and I felt that her thoughts, feelings, and long-term side-effects were portrayed accurately.

The secondary characters were also very likable. Not all relationships are traditional or conventional, and this was represented well. One of Penny’s friends is non-binary, and they were introduced in a very natural way. I loved the diversity, and how it never felt forced.

When it came to the three romances, I didn’t have a preference as to who I wanted Penny to end up with. I wouldn't say that I disliked any of them, I just felt more interested in Penny's relationship with herself.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books UK for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun and refreshing romantic comedy novel!
Penny is a very likeable protagonist - she's overcome a lot of obstacles to become the successful cafe owner that she is. I was rooting for her the whole way, and appreciated that she is a woman putting her needs and feelings first. Her search for a partner is a lovely ride, and even though there is only one obvious choice, the author lets you sympathize with the other men and believe that there's a version of Penny that exists with all three of them.

The characters in this book are all well-developed, and avoid stereotypes. Overall a very lovely read!

I loved The Love Square, but then again, I’ve loved Laura Jane Williams’ writing since she self-published The Book of Brave years ago.

This story focuses on Penny Bridge, a chef who finds herself not in a love triangle with two men, but a love “square” with three of them (!), as she leaves the comforts of her London life to run her uncle’s restaurant in northern England. Penny and the rest of the cast of characters felt believable; I loved her family and friends, and even her potential love interests felt three-dimensional, not just “good” or “bad” guys.

Laura Jane Williams describes her stories as “modern romance,” and this one truly is a modern love story, one that will keep you on your toes (unusual for a genre where you can typically guess the outcome from the first chapter) and may even convert any rom-com sceptics out there!

I really enjoyed this feel good, light read about Penny and her three different men she is juggling in her life. The beginning of the story stated off strong for me as I really enjoyed her relationship with Francesco as the story progressed I found myself having a bit of a harder time connecting with Penny but I enjoyed how the author ended the story. It was the perfect light fun feel good family read that I needed at this time. I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to friends. Thank you Net galley and publisher for the advanced read.

Charming, sweet, and fun. A great addition to collections where light women's fiction and romance are popular.

The Love Square, as you may expect from the title goes one step beyond the standard Love Triangle. One girl, 3 guys and a whole host of decisions to be made.

Penny Bridges is a cancer survivor, who used her life insurance to purchase her own cafe and over the past 5 years has made it a roaring success. There’s just a couple of things missing; that special someone and a family of her own. Just as she’s about to resort to single motherhood, just her and her frozen embryos, Francesco enters the scene - an Italian hunk who is delivering bread to the cafe as a favour and who sparks something inside Penny that has been non existent since her ex ditched her upon her cancer diagnosis. She has his number, but before she convinces herself to use it, fate intervenes.

As with any decent romance novel, a series of unfortunate events then occurs and we find Penny heading off to the Derbyshire countryside where Thomas and Priyesh enter the Love Square. Each of the men in Penny’s life provides her with something different yet fulfilling, Francesco with his humour and culinary skills, Thomas with his adventurous spirit and Priyesh with his sexual prowess. When a storm and some loose roof tiles brings the “square” to a dramatic, drenched ultimatum, Penny must decide what she wants and hope it’s not too late to get it.

For the most part, I really enjoyed this story, with its unusual take on the typical life triangle albeit a little reminiscent of the classic J-Lo movie, The Backup Plan. There are lots of twist and turns to keep you hooked right through to the finale and I couldn’t wait to see how things turned out for Penny.

If you’re looking for an LGBTQ+ friendly book, then this one could possibly be considered overly friendly. Whilst our leading lady is straight (as is made clear at least three times over), she is surrounded by lesbians, gays, gender non specific (which proved rather confusing when “they” would say something and I found it strange that two people would say the exact same sentence in unison on such a regular basis). Along with mixed race relationships, cancer, infertility, IVF and surrogacy, I can’t help but feel the book was trying a little too hard to tick all the inclusion and diversity boxes. Whilst most of this didn’t take away from the story, I didn’t feel like it all necessarily added to it either.

Definitely worth a read if you love romance novels but fancy something a little different to the norm.

I just absolutely loved this book - it was quite predictable where it was going but great nonetheless! A real feel good book with likeable characters

Enjoyable and lighthearted read! It took me a bit to get into the book, but once I did, the pages flew by. I enjoyed reading about Penny's trials, tribulations, and ultimately, growth. Great book to enjoy at the pool or beach with a cocktail in hand.

When I saw that Laura Jane Williams had a new book for request on NetGalley I knew I had to get my hands on it. I became such a fan of her work after reading OUR STOP and the love continues with her upcoming novel, THE LOVE SQUARE! I liked Penny from the start so I immediately became invested in her story. I was a bit suspicious of Francesco at first but then quickly got swept up in their time together. I definitely don’t want to spoil it for anyone but I’ll share this: I laughed (at Penny), I cried (at moving), I laughed again (at the older gent lol), then I cried again (AT THE ENDING AHHHHH). Oh man, highly recommend picking this one up when it comes out in July!

Oh I just loved this book! A flawed heroine with a brilliant story and the coolest supporting characters (I definitely have a new lit crush!) make one of my favourite reads. It has heart, food and laughs, what more could we want?!

This story follows Penny, the owner and head chef of Bridges Cafe. She is single, and feel there is something wrong with her.

This all changes when she meets Francesco. But just as their relationship gets going she has to leave London to take over the running of her uncle's pub.

Whilst there she meets another two men, who she gets involved with, but she;s never forgotten Francesco.

I found Penny a little annoying, and at times the storyline was far-fetched..I felt this wasn't as strong as 'Our Stop.' but it was an OK light read.

Love. Friendship. Giving. Receiving. Being open and accepting. These are all things we have to learn, and we learn with Penny.
Life doesn’t always go as planned, in fact the saying ‘if you want to make God laugh, make a plan’ comes to mind.
Penny goes from her own life, to a situation she doesn’t want o be in, but accepts with grace. The men that come into her life - the exciting adventurer who is selfish in bed, the cultured connoisseur who is anything but, and the one that knows that friendship is at the heart of any true love - these men all give Penny something that she needs. It is not until she has a chance to truly explore that she is able to see what it is that she needs - both for herself, and from a partner.

Williams artfully weaves this light and fun tale of life, love, and self discovery into a page turning delight.
Fantastic beach/summer read, or really for anyone who wants to smile into a story.

A feel good, escapist story which engrosses the reader from start to finish.

A will she, wont she with a happy ending, what more do you need for a great lockdown read.

I would recommend this for summer reading for 2020.

I really enjoyed this. Great characters and well written. Kept me interested throughout as I couldn't wait to see how Penny and Francesco's story would end. Definitely recommended.

I really loved reading Laura Jane Williams debut novel, Our Stop, which was published in 2019. I didn’t believe she could exceed herself although I expect it’s every authors dream to excel book by book! However, even though I though it wasn’t possible because Our stop was so good… she has done it again and more.

The characters in The Love Square are likeable, even loveable, especially because of their flaws. The background information seems very well researched and accurate – life as a chef and owner of a pub seem are conveyed really well throughout. The dilemmas that life throw at us are explored carefully with a great mix of emotion and humour. You will find yourself cheering Penny on and commiserating with her in equal measures as we follow her journey navigating love and loss.

Penny Bridge is a complicated character. Single, thirty years old and a breast cancer survivor, she is successfully managing a wonderful little café of which she is the chef. Her father took off when she was a little girl and her mother died of breast cancer when she was nine years of age, leaving her and her younger sister to be brought up by her uncle David. She wants to be involved with a partner but after being dumped by her long-term boyfriend when diagnosed with cancer, she hasn’t had any real luck on the romance front for five years. Then her Uncle, also a restaurant owner, has a second heart attack and the responsibility to run his business whilst he recovers becomes hers and she up sticks from London and moves to Derbyshire “for a year, maybe 18 months at the most,” to do what’s right by her family. Just before she leaves London she meets guy number one and whilst there Penny appears to become flavour of the month with two other men also falling for her charms. Penny becomes part, not of a triangle, but a love square, where she does not know who or what she really wants, as responsibilities and expectations of others fall heavily on her shoulders. Over the course of the year Penny dates three men, sometimes simultaneously, juggling hearts and affections, telling herself that none of them really matter, but in the end, she must make a choice if her life is to move forward.

There is some part of this review that wants to applaud that a female character is real and honestly reflects a modern-day society in that she is capable of dating several men in a year, that each relationship is valued for its own reasons and she isn’t swept away by a knight in shining armour to save her and make her life complete – Jerry Maguire / Tom Cruise and the whole “you complete me” has a lot of answer for! Women can and do date many men, but all too often there is an element of slut-shaming if a woman behaves in a liberated manner (Taylor Swift anyone?) but in most romantic novels women wouldn’t dream of such behaviour much less be allowed to do so. They are a one-man kind of woman and they find their happily ever after, maybe after a plot device or two of dramatic issues, finally and completely with that one perfect man. In ‘The Love Square’, Penny is portrayed dating men and not being sure of the ‘perfect fit’ for her life, if such a thing exists. It's refreshing and honest. What does make a perfect guy nowadays, and are women held to the ideal that would make Jane Austen proud by only ever lifting her eyes to one man, lest she is labelled a loose woman? Hooray for this book. But then there is the negative side of things in which Penny doesn’t appear to care that the men involved in her love square are being hurt emotionally by her behaviour because she isn’t honest with them all about her dating more than one man at a time. That doesn’t jibe so well. That’s disrespectful, to say the least. Perhaps that’s the point the author was trying to make in this novel, that its fine to date around, but be upfront and honest with all the people you are ‘trying on for size.’

Another issue that one feels the need to take issue with is the apparent dumping in of a non-binary person as a character and the preaching of how they liked to be addressed and how their choices should be respected by others. Fair point, but not needed in a novel when the character in question doesn’t play a central role in the story and feels as if they are simply there to make a political statement. The characters sexual identification had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the actual plotline and it felt that the author was simply using the novel as a soapbox from which to preach her values to all and sundry. In Western culture, the requests of non-binary people are known, understood (if not always respected) but the blatant positioning within this novel was uncalled for and unnecessary. It felt high handed at best, or just plain tacky.

The explanation of what a survivor of cancer feels emotionally and physically a few years after the initial diagnosis and treatment was really interesting reading and possibly educational as the long term effects of chemotherapy are not well known or discussed but have a very real impact on many peoples lives. It is worthy of note that at the end of the book the author thanks a real-life survivor of breast cancer and the reader can discover that she took the time to research and write about the topic with grace, knowledge and respect.

This book feels like a modern-day slice of life. The characters are fleshed out and two couples represented in the family of Penny are gay and portrayed in a sympathetic and credible manner. Penny’s desire to find a partner and move forward with her life is one felt by almost every person, so the longing, the questioning of when the right person was going to turn up is relatable. There are issues, undoubtedly, but overall, this is an enjoyable read that reflects the modern woman

Absolutely loved this!!! I'd expect nothing less from Laura, to be honest. It was diverse, without feeling like it was forced and just for the sake of inclusion. It was heartwarming and touching and DIFFERENT, which is really quite rare for contemporary romance these days. I'm a sucker for the love triangle trope, never mind a love square. I'll be buying a physical copy of this when it comes out.

I just ADORE Laura's books. Our Stop was a favourite last year and this one *might* have stolen my heart even more. This story had personal growth, vulnerability and love by the bucketload. Penny was such a likeable protagonist and I rooted for her the whole way through. This book's insights into topics such as breast cancer and surrogacy were beautifully written and brought me to tears, and her relationship with Clementine was the star of the show for me (close sister relationships? Gimme). At the surface this might seem like a romantic love story, and although it does explore that, it's depth when discussing familial and platonic love stories boosted it even higher.

Yep, another great one from this author. Loved the characters, thought provoking and made me lol. Grab your sunscreen, head outside and enjoy!

An enjoyable read, but one that turned out different to what I expected it to be. What I thought was going to be a fun, romantic comedy, actually turned out to be quite emotional and a deep read. Having said this I still really did enjoy it, and really liked the LGBTQ+ rep in there.

If you love London, love stories, and journeys of self discovery, this is a solid read. Penny is really relatable heroine and her journey of self discovery and realization of what she wants is a really organic process. The ending is a little choppy but it's a good summer read nonetheless.

Penny Bridges is enjoying life in London, but it is not without complications. The café owner and chef is a cancer survivor, which left her with fertility issues and difficult decisions to make when it comes to having children.

While she would love a partner to build her life with, a series of disastrous dates shifts her focus away from looking for love. Enter Francesco, the handsome Italian chef.

When her uncle becomes ill, Penny finds herself heading back to Derbyshire to run the family pub while he recovers. The timing isn’t great, but given everything he has done for Penny and her sister, Clementine, she is not in a position to refuse.

But what does the move mean for her relationship with Francesco?

As she settles into life in the country, Penny finds herself drawn to Thomas—a man who doesn’t do monogamy. She enjoys their time together, which is all that matters. Right?

Then there is Priyesh.

Each relationship is completely different, but Penny soon finds herself having to choose between the three men.

Laura Jane Williams writes complex characters with ease. While I had some issues with the LGBTQ+ representation in Williams’ debut Our Stop, the LGBTQ+ characters in The Love Square are fully realised.

The Love Square is a thoroughly enjoyable rom com full of humour, compassion, friendships, familial relationships, explorations of what it means to live an intentional life, and, yes, romance.

5 stars

The love triangle is a trope that has been played out in all sorts of novels, but what about a love square? In Laura Jane Williams' new book, this idea lays the foundation for a sharp, fun, and ultimately emotional tale about how we live and love in the modern age.

As much as I love a Hallmark kind of love story, I have been in the market for more complex and diverse romantic literature lately and this book fit the bill in every way. The protagonist Penny is rendered wonderfully with all of the messy contradictions and baggage that make a character really believable. The more sensitive issues of her dealing with surviving cancer and the resulting infertility are handled very well and provide a voice to issues that are not typically present in romance novels.

All of the ancillary characters are just as fun, with major props for the tremendous amount of LGBTIA+ characters throughout. The British setting made it all the more enjoyable and I wish that I could eat some of the wonderful food that they described!

However, what stood out to me the most is the fact that Williams did not make anything easy for her characters. They had to work through incredibly tough life choices and get hurt and be unhappy in order to grow as people. Although the ending is a happy one, it is colored with the idea that we are all bruised by life and keep on loving anyway. That's a message that I really needed right now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

After reading and enjoying Out Stop last year on holiday , when I saw that this author had a new book coming out I was really looking forward to it instantly! I knew I was in for another feel good read and that's exactly what this was!

This one absolutely ticked all the boxes for me, the writing again just sucked me in from the start, Penny the main character I really loved and enjoyed following her life and the turns it took , and it fully had my attention all the way through until it's brilliantly and heart warming ending.

I just loved Penny, her attitude, her no nonsense headstrong style and just how she was on a journey to find herself and accept the love she deserved. This had so many moments that made me smile, laugh and have a little emotional moment over also. Which really is the perfect mix in a feel good read!

I loved all the characters, how everything was so seamlessly woven in together, and just the general vibe of the book. Complete box ticker for me.

Thank you to the publisher Avon for letting me read this ahead of publication.

This was a nice light-hearted romance. I enjoyed the storyline and found the characters delightful. This would make a great beach read!

I recommend this book, 4 stars.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Penny finally meets the man of her dreams but she has to put the relationship on hold to tend to her uncle's pub in Derbyshire. Thirty seconds after she leaves London, she realizes the mistake she makes asking her boyfriend to be just friends but he is ALREADY kissing another girl. She moves on and sows her oats in Derbyshire so who does she really love? I thought this was the same old story - person leaves, realizes their mistake, comes back and their other has moved on. However, it was turned into a sweet story. A little too racey in parts for me but still good! #thelovesquare #laurajanewilliams

The story follows Penny, a chef who runs a cafe in London but goes to run her uncle's pub/restaurant in Derbyshire while he is ill. Penny goes from being eternally single to having 3 men around her.
The book was an enjoyable read, a bit of chick lit but with a bit of a twist towards the end. I did find Penny a bit of a confusing character but I think this just reflected from the fact that she was confused at the time. I thought it would be a run of the mill romantic novel but I was pleased that it did veer ever so slightly off the beaten track!
I would recommend this book, it would make a perfect holiday read.

I LOVED this book. I didn’t realize that it was by the same author who wrote our stop (which I also loved!!!) I have encouraged all who look at my insta review to add it to their TBR list as it’s just such a good heart warming story!!!!! I wouldn’t change a thing about this book it was a great read which I couldn’t put down and would read again!!!!!! I’ll be buying a real copy o ve it’s out for my book shelf!!!!

A brilliant book, perfect for these lockdown days. I loved Penny and her quirky, modern spirit. Likewise I'd already picked my favourite of the three heroes and was super chuffed the ending was what I wanted it to be.
Laura Jane Williams is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.

It was such a good novel to read, it's a book for the ones who loved Bridget Jones Diary, a cute adult romance where our main character Penny has no luck for love, she's struggling with the romance aspect of her life and she's tired about it. But then she meets a georgous man, and then another, and another, it's not a triangle love story but a real Love Square as the tittle suggests it, she has to decide and this novel is about her choice and the steps she has to climb to find true love and to find herself too.
When i was reading this book, I cried a lot, I laught a lot and I was so moved, Penny was such a good character with some depth choices to make.

Penny, the heroine of this book, is not your typical chick-lit heroine. In fact, the whole novel has a very modern feel about it. Penny is self sufficient, with a successful business and good relationships with her family and friends. She's done all that on her own, without the need for a man in her life.

But then she realises that there is a gap in her life for a meaningful relationship. Penny gets involved with three different men, all giving her different aspects of what she is looking for. But who will be the right answer?

I really liked this book, it's got all the elements of a classic chick-lit but with a nice modern slant to it. And you genuinely don't know what's going to happen at the end - it's got a great 'will they won't they' all the way through.

Suspend belief and just enjoy this comedy romance, with its will they won’t they plot. Deftly written.

This was a really sweet, wholesome story that was very well written and kept me entertained throughout!
The characters are really well written and i found myself quite drawn to Penny, i thought she was great.

Wow I loved this, what a lovely easy read which made me laugh, smile and sometimes cringe at the choices Penny made. I loved how the book featured diversity with the characters and their relationships, but also the sensitivity in the storyline. It was well written and a great pace to keep attention, I would highly recommend this 🧡

Love a good romance?

Enjoy laughing out loud when reading?

Then you're in for a treat with The Love Square.

I mean we've all heard of a love triangle but have you ever seen love form a different shape before? I certainly haven't.

But that's just what happens when owner of cafe/restaurant Bridges Penny puts herself back into the dating world.

What starts as an innocent date with charming Italian chef Francesco, ends up with a complicated situation of too many men and not enough Penny to go around.

Will it be Francesco with all his culinary skills, perhaps Thomas with his musical connections or could it be Priyesh with all his wisdom?

The choice may well be taken out of Penny's hands if she doesn't make her mind up fast enough.

Penny is quite the protagonist. Filled with self doubt, this is a woman who is confused about what she she really wants from life but unknowingly her inability to make firm decisions ends up leaving others emotionally hurt in the process .

I really liked how independent Penny tries to be but what is refreshing is the fact that although she can do things by herself, we as the reader get to see that it's also quite nice to have a someone close to share their achievements with.

This is a story that is endearing from start to finish.

With a cast of characters that all add a certain depth to the tale and a storyline that will have you reaching for the tissues both from crying through laughter and a shared sadness.

And what I am pleased to confirm is that there is indeed a happy ending with all the feels.

BOOK REVIEW: The Love Square by Laura Jane Williams @laurajaneauthor

3.5 stars

TW: Cancer, infertility, IVF.

The Love Square comes from the author of Our Stop, and in my opinion The Love Square is just about a better book.

The main protagonist a chef named Penny is a really interesting character and I found myself connecting with her from the beginning. She has battled cancer, is rather unlucky with her love life and is working out what she wants from life. Things get complicated and she has to leave her life in London to help out her uncle. Seeing Penny go through different stages of discovery about herself and others and how she reacted to change was interesting. Although the ending was pretty obvious from the start, the journey to how it got there was not so straight forward.
This story involves 3 men who I am not going to say much more about (zero spoilers) other than they could not be more different!
I loved the chef aspect of the storyline which was done really well and added some extra layers. Penny's story with cancer and infertility was also vital to giving more depth and making this story not just another chick lit. It gave a huge amount of emotion, ambition but most of all vulnerability to her character which had a huge impact on how she felt about herself and in turn how she acted with others.
The side characters were also excellent. People like her lesbian sister Clementine and her non binary friend Charlie added so much to the storyline, especially their humour!
I didn't like a few aspects of the storyline as I didn't believe Penny's character would have done some of the things she did. I also found a few aspects repetitive or not needed.
Despite this, I really did enjoy this story of love, not just a romantic love but love with family, friends and most importantly, love for yourself.
Please note that I was gifted this ebook in exchange for an honest review

A heartwarming, fun, perfect beach read. Great escapism with interesting, well-written characters.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After loving Laura Jane Williams first book Our Stop, I was so excited to jump into this one. I thought the premise for this story sounded hilarious and just the right kind of rom com for me. And I was definitely right about that one. I was hooked from the start and with some undoubtedly intriguing and sexy love interests it kept me hooked from beginning to end.
The Love Square follows Penny Bridges as she navigates through her dating life post cancer. Although she has been unlucky in love in the past, it seems that luck might be on her side as she meets not one, not two but three attractive, intriguing, and interesting men nearly all at the same time. She just has one issue. Which one to choose?
This story had some harder topics and moments throughout the book that made the book and its characters feel more realistic and gave loads of depth to the plot. I loved reading about a woman who knew her life and her goals for children in her life was going to have to be a bit unconventional.
I loved the family dynamic throughout this book and adored the relationship between Penny and her sister and I really loved their super strong bond.
I thought the setting in this book was super strong and the contrasting settings from Penny's cafe in London and her uncle’s country Pub were really interesting and fun to see. I loved being in and around the kitchen with these characters and reading made me constantly hungry (especially for some really yummy pasta!).
There were a couple of moments in this story that made me a little uncomfortable (mostly surrounding the main confrontations in the novel) however I really liked how this resolved. I wished Penny had some better and more open and honest conversations with the men who were all interested in her however I know that this miscommunication led to the major conflict and the overall resolution of the story.
I loved how this book ended and although some of the plot lines felt a little far fetched at some points, this book was heart-warming, and I found myself laughing out loud.
Laura Jane Williams has firmly stamped her name as an author for me with her second novel and I can't wait to see what she writes next.
4 out of 5 Stars.

There was a lot to like about this book, but surprisingly for me it was none of the love interests. Penny gets her romantic HEA, but for me that wasn’t the point of the book.

I was excited for this after Our Stop, but I was also nervous because I’m personally not a huge fan of non-monogamy. It ended up being more of a serial dating situation, which turned more complicated when they all reappear at the same time. I thought there was a clear choice (even if not my choice) and not a lot of competition from the others, but I also loved that Penny wasn’t putting a lot of pressure on these relationships, enjoying them for what they were. Not every relationship has to be going somewhere if it’s making you both happy right now and you’re clear on expectations. Maybe I got something out of that too. Unlike someone else in the book, I didn’t think she was hurting anyone — there was one instance where she might have communicated expectations a little bit better, but otherwise she’s her own person and can make her own decisions.

There were so many great things in this book:
- Bad sex (not great, but how often do you see that addressed in a romance novel?)
- Good sex (you can’t give us bad without the good)
- Penny becoming more self-confident and addressing what she wants in life and not being afraid to ask for it
- The relationship between Penny and her sister
- When people put expectations on you and you’re angry at them for asking because you know you couldn’t say no (…what if you did? What if you could at least address your own needs too?)

And then what I didn’t like, which has to do with her final choice: <spoiler>Francesco started out great, and then it seemed like he turned into a different person. He took his hurt and turned it into anger towards Penny. He slut shamed her, grew possessive over her even though they weren’t even in a relationship, told her she needed help, called her selfish and cruel, said he couldn’t love her because of it and that she was <i>broken</i>. No, no no. I couldn’t go back from that. There was only a quick mention of his apology long after the fact, saying he was embarrassed he’d said that. It wasn’t enough for me, because those were some really hurtful things to say.</spoiler>

So in the end, this book surprised me. I went into it worried that she was going to be dating three guys at the same time, breaking hearts and playing with emotions. But really this wasn’t about the guys at all — it was about Penny learning to trust in herself, in knowing what is best for her. I wasn’t Team Francesco, Thomas, or Priyesh. I was Team Penny.

This was the perfect lighthearted summer read. I fell in love with the lead character, Penny, and was rooting for her (and sometimes mad at her!) throughout the book. A great, light summer pick!

This was the absolutely perfect, lighthearted, and fun book to launch into my summer reading with. When Penny Bridges who has always been unlucky in love suddenly finds three remarkable men in a short amount of time, who is a girl to choose? Follow Penny on her hysterical journey to love.

Thoroughly enjoyed this rom-com. I found it honest and emotional with great characters and a neatly tied up conclusion. Quick read that I will definitely recommend for purchase

Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for letting me read this lovely book in exchange for an honest review.
This is just the book you need if you are looking for a romance that is well written, funny, sad and poignant.
The characters are well rounded and likeable and there is a good balance of wit, humour and heartbreak.
Penny is unlucky in love and being a young cancer survivor makes her question her ability to find the one.
The book sees her meet and lose the gorgeous chef Francesco, music tour manager Thomas and older wine merchant Priyesh.
Moving from London to her childhood home to run her uncles pub/restaurant tests her and gives her the answers that she needs.
Great read especially during these uncertain times that I would highly recommend.

I read this book while on vacation, and it was the perfect addition for that adventure. It was fun and engrossing and great to read in the car in between stops on a road trip.

I loved Williams’ debut novel, Our Stop, so I could not wait to grab this one when I saw it on NetGalley. I had high hopes going into it, I was hoping the sophomore book was at the same standards as her debut and for the most part it was! I think I liked Our Stop a little better, but The Love Square was also a solid contemporary romance. And I’m saying this as a reader who normally does not like the love triangle trope. However, Williams does it in a really nice way. Each of the love interests were very well defined, had clear backstories and characteristics that made them very 3D characters and distinct from each other.

Like her debut, Williams is very inclusive with her characters. She has all different types of races, sexualities and genders. She includes some nodes to current pop culture which helps set the time and setting. Williams is a solid author who is probably now on my list of auto buys. I can’t wait to see what she does next!

I just finished this and oh my god I absolutely loved it. I will admit I struggled a tiny little bit to get in to it at first but once I got into it, wow. The characters weren't perfect people with perfect lives, and I think that made the story even better. Kudos for the LGBTQ+ aspect of the book also - fantastic representation, brilliant. It dealt with some really great things - infertility, non-monogamy, grief, and motherhood.

Brilliant, would recommend! 4 stars from me

I liked this book a lot and found the characters easy to udnerstand and relate to. The writing was great and I enjoyed the storyline and plot points. I would recommend this book for sure.

Really enjoyed this book. Steady paced, great characters, I was absorbed throughout. Will be reading more books by the author in the future!

I enjoyed Our Stop although I did feel slightly older than the target audience so I was intrigued as to what Laura Jane Williams next book would be like. I’m glad I gave it a go as I felt this had broader age appeal and an interesting main character in Penny who I mostly liked but sometimes wanted to slap! Penny hasn’t had the easiest of pasts which have affected who she is and how she feels about relationships and that is well reflected in the way she views the three different relationships she has. The author does reflect well on the emotional side of relationships however she doesn’t shy from the intimate details either. Overall this a really easy to read and warm hearted story with a real mix of engaging characters.

I liked this book overall. One thing I struggled with was not how Penny treated Francesco, but how she didn't even seem to think twice about sleeping with Thomas when she was also sleeping with Priyesh (not that he was a favourite of mine but still). Yes, I know no-one's perfect, but she didn't appear to have any angst over this. Also, she should have tackled Francesco a lot sooner about what she saw him doing just before she left London. I liked all the characters. I loved the cooking element. I appreciated the honesty surrounding how Penny could get tired post-cancer. Learning about her early menopause and the fact she'd had her eggs frozen was compelling reading. The diversity of the characters in this book was great. I particularly liked Clemmie and her offer to be a surrogate. The ending was satisfying. There's just that one issue I had with Penny. It didn't ring true. A good read nonetheless. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An entertaining, fast-paced, feel-good, swoony, cute read that makes you smile and gives you positive energy.

REVIEW | The Love Square by Laura Jane Williams

“Life is about how you handle being thrown off course, not discounting yourself from the race because you were thrown off in the first place”

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

"She’s single. But that doesn’t mean it’s not complicated…
Penny Bridge has, historically, been very unlucky in love. She’s pledged to focus on other things - her friends, her career - making the most of what busy London life has to offer. But when difficult circumstances mean that Penny’s uncle must has over the kitchen of his beloved restaurant in Derbyshire, she finds herself stepping into a new life in a new town. And as luck would have it, she’s suddenly confronted with one remarkable man who wants to date her, followed by another. And then another…so begins a hilarious love-square with Penny firmly in the middle."

My thoughts
Love triangles are so 2000s, love squares is where it’s at.

I read Our Stop a few weeks ago - which I really enjoyed because of its modern take on romance. I read the Love Square before Our Stop though and would argue it is even better!

What I liked
- I loved the idea of a love square - the book celebrates the idea that women can have no-strings attached sex, just like men;

- The Love Square tosses the idea of The One out of the window and focuses on the idea that we should figure out our own life priorities first before committing to a relationship;

- As with Our Stop, the Love Square has plenty of LGBTQ+ representation. Penny’s sister and uncle are both in loving same-sex relationships. Penny’s colleague, Charlie, identifies as non-binary and the story also features POC and people of different religions.

- The ways in which the book focused on love in all its shapes and forms: romantic love, familial love, platonic love, sexual love and self-love.

I would recommend this book to anyone who’s looking for a dose of smart-storytelling, modern romance and complex, diverse and relatable characters.

Thank you @netgalley and Avon Books UK for my free copy of The Love Square in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my GOSH this gave me so many feels. Although I couldn't particularly relate to the struggles the protagonist Penny went through, I was rooting for her the ENTIRE time which made me cry more than once. All the love interests were unexpectedly loveable and although I thought I knew what would happen, I truly did not know what her decisions would be and I didnt really care as I just loved everyone. SIGH I'll be thinking about this one for a while!

Thank you @netgalley and @avonpublishing for this ARC of a “The Love Square” by Laura Jane Williams. I’m always a sucker for a good love story and this was exactly that. It was such a fun read with such interesting and easy to relate to characters, that I just couldn’t put it down! The Love Square is due out July 2020!!

Penny has been unlucky in life and love. After losing her mother at a very young age and surviving cancer herself, Penny wants to settle down with a good man and raise a baby. After repeated dating failures she finally meets an amazing guy. Francisco is everything she is looking for and after a rocky start, Penny starts to feel like she is moving on the right direction. Just when things are starting to heat up, Penny is called away to manage her Uncle’s restaurant. Not wanting a long distance relationship, she ends things with Francisco. Penny thinks about him a lot and is very lonely when she first arrives but that doesn’t last long and soon she has more men than she can handle. When Francisco shows up again out of the blue will this mean an opportunity for a fresh start or does Penny have just too many men in her life? A fun and fresh new read! Pick up a copy to find out what happens to Penny and her love square!

I enjoyed this book - about the amount I assumed I would but if Im being 100% honest it was for none of the reasons I thought I would.

From the cover (i know I KNOW never pick a book by its cover but sometimes…) and description I was expecting a light hearted romance - it was far from it. In fact I needed the biggest glass of wine and a chat with my mum after I had finished.

This book covers and array of hard hitting topics from Cancer and loss of a parent to infertility and I think these were handled well and with respect.

The writing style was excellent! It led me through the hard hitting themes without losing step or humour.

I also appreciated that I didn’t always necessarily like the lead character, flawed characters are the way forward! But Penny, Penny was her own person and with a book as turbulent as this you need that touch of reality from a real character.

It was an emotional ride and although I do recommend it. Go in with your eyes open and with a box of tissues.

Don't be fooled by the colourful cover and tongue in cheek title, this book is a heart wrencher!
Scarred by loss and suffering, Penny struggles to let love in until she meets Francesco. Then a turn of events tears the two apart after just three weeks.
Back in Derbyshire the way Penny heals her heart is questionable and I struggled as a reader to understand her selflessness but nevertheless I enjoyed this ride of a read. Laura Jane William's is at the forefront of diversifying modern fiction; this is the first book I have read with a non-binary character, I must admit it took me time to adjust to the appropriate plurals. Brilliant relationships and a great cast of diverse characters. Thank you netgalley!