Another romantic hopeful read from this author that I lost a couple of hours to. Based in Newcastle it is a well researched story with no fear of facing difficult issues. Would recommend to others needing to read a feelgood story.

What a fabulous story this hade everything in it which I enjoy. Uplifting and hopeful it made me feel better about everything just reading it. Sad in places which is fine. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

EXCERPT: . . . I changed my mind and decided I would cycle after all.
See? I told you I was indecisive.
I'm trying to channel my earlier optimism now as I carefully edge past a car while my lungs fill nicely with exhaust fumes, but it's easier said than done.
Finally, free of both car and an enormous rainwater-filled pothole, I glance up. The lights are still green so I push down, trying to gather some speed and get over the junction before they change back to red. Rain is dripping from the helmet down the back of my neck and the car beside me is driving far too close to my leg for comfort. The lights begin to turn to amber. I'm not going to make it.
It takes a moment for the realisation to sink in. The following few seconds happen in slow motion.
First, a man steps off the kerb into the road.
Next, I tug on the brakes until my fingers turn white. At the same time I scream, a blood-curdling sound I didn't even know I was capable of. The man's head swivels round and his eyes widen, his mouth opens, and he freezes, eyes fixed on me. There's no time to stop this collision, and there's nothing wither of us can do except to wait to see how efficient my brakes and his reflexes are. I'm hurtling towards him, getting closer and closer until I can see the whites of his eyes, the dark flash of his hair, and the pink of his tie. I'm not breathing, braced for impact.
Right at the last second, something tells me I can stop this, and I yank my handlebars to the right.
I barely graze his arm as I pass.
I've done it! I've saved us both!
Except I haven't. Because my front wheel is stuck at a peculiar angle, and it's skidding across the tarmac. I am also no longer upright.
Panic floods my body.
Then I hit the ground.
Silence.

ABOUT 'FIVE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU': One fate, five clues, and a love story waiting to be told.

With Miranda's children grown, a perfectly amicable divorce long behind her, and her career in need of a spark, life feels steady — but a little too predictable. She can’t shake the feeling that something has to change.

So, when she’s knocked off her bike and wakes up in hospital bruised but not broken, Miranda wonders if the universe is trying to tell her something. And when she starts to be plagued by recurring dreams featuring the same featureless man, she is convinced it’s a sign.

Her repeating dreams offer five clues to the man’s identity so, with nothing to lose, Miranda sets off on a journey to the future she’s always longed for. Somewhere there’s a life and a love waiting for Miranda, but when destiny finally presents itself, will she take the leap?

MY THOUGHTS: The high point of this read for me was Miranda's friendships. Her friends, Sophie and Kirsty, are incredibly kind and supportive. I think, had I been one of Miranda's friends, I would have had her committed until she came to her senses!

Putting aside the improbability of it all, I liked the fact that the story was based around more mature characters - late forties and early fifties - but the fact they often behaved and sounded like teenagers had me gritting my teeth. And when Miranda is trying to talk herself into 'being in love' with Jay, it is just nauseating! Clare Swatman couldn't have made it any clearer if she'd hired planes to skywrite where Miranda's heart truly lay.

Despite this and the fact that I had the solution figured out fairly early on, I never felt inclined to abandon this read which I thought was kind of cute and sweet in parts but downright silly in others.

⭐⭐.5 lifted to 3 stars (when are we going to get half stars GR?) because of Gladys the dog.

#FiveThingsILoveAboutYou #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Clare lives in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and two boys.
Even the cat is male, which means she's destined to be outnumbered forever.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of Five Things I Love About You for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Five Things I Love About You is a charming and uplifting tale by Clare Swatman guaranteed to leave you with a great big smile on your face.

Miranda cannot shake off this feeling that there is something missing in her life. With her kids having grown up, her amicable divorce a decade behind her and her career having hit the doldrums, Miranda knows that something needs to change, but getting knocked off her bike wasn’t the change she had been anticipating. Still, little does Miranda realise that she this accident might just end up leading her to the life she was always meant to be leading!

Plagued by recurring dreams about a man whose face she cannot see, Miranda is convinced that this is a sign for her to stop wallowing about her predictable life and inject some much needed excitement in her humdrum routine. With her dreams offering five clues about this man’s identity, Miranda vows to do everything she can to find him. But is she on a hiding to nothing? Will she find her knight in shining armour? Or is she merely setting herself up for a fall?

Five Things I Love About You is a fun and feel-good read with a heroine it is easy to relate to and see yourself in. Clare Swatman writes with wit and wisdom about situations we’ve all been in and explores feelings and emotions which we’ve all experienced. A captivating tale about putting yourself first, chasing your dreams and finding happiness, Five Things I Love About You is a warm-hearted, hilarious and heartfelt novel you’ll want to buy a copy of for all your girl friends – don’t miss it!

A heartwarming, emotionally rich story about second chances, trusting your instincts, and following the signs life gives you. When Miranda finds herself at a crossroads—kids grown, career stalled, and dreams lingering—an accident and a series of mysterious dreams push her to take a leap into the unknown. With five clues and a whole lot of courage, she sets off on a journey of self-discovery, hope, and unexpected love. A beautiful reminder that it's never too late to rewrite your story.

I have read and enjoyed many of Swatman's books...proclaiming every time that this is my favourite to date...guess what?

Five Things I Love About You is Miranda's story of finding herself and starting over. I love the spate books around at the mo that have an older protagonist at the helm. I find the characters more relatable and can empathise with them.

It's a heartwarming read and has a touch of magical realism. I love to interpret my dreams, but dream prophecies is a whole new ball game and I'm all for it!

Loved the friendships, the romance and obviously the charming cast of characters.

An enjoyable and engaging easy read.

A man steps off the pavement as Miranda cycles to work in the rain around the North Circular – and she wakes up in hospital, remembering little, but the man has just featured in her dreams. He had dark hair, a Geordie accent, a pink tie, and his name might have started with a J, but she couldn’t see his face clearly – but the dreams are still happening nine months later (and she’s added the detail that he has a dog called Colin), and she knows she needs to find him, convinced that he really must be “the one”. So when she’s made redundant from her teaching job, her new relationship doesn’t work out, and her grown-up family are living their own lives, she decides there’s only one thing she can do – let her house, find some supply teaching in Newcastle, and try to find him.

This was such an original concept, and quite beautifully delivered – her quest seems impossible, but she really does give it her very best try. And it helped – even if I shook my head at times and didn’t entirely agree with some of her choices along the way – that Miranda was a character I really loved, wavering and indecisive at times, distracted from her mission, but both easy to identify with and extraordinarily brave as she attempted to achieve the seemingly impossible. I really enjoyed living through every setback and small victory with her – and I’m deliberately avoiding any mention of the way her life unfolds, as her story is one full of surprises that it’d be unforgivable for me to share.

Another thing I really loved about this book was the friendships – always so supportive, even if they (especially Kirstie, who’s only too happy to tell her so) think she’s taken leave of her senses, and still making wrong choices in her new life. Sophie’s rather more in her corner maybe – a little more open to the woo-hoo side of things, even grabbing the opportunity to give her a tarot card reading (with a little more negative energy from the more grounded Kirstie). But they’re both so very firmly in her corner, always there when she needs them – the special bonds between them all made me quite tearful at times.

The ending? Does she find him? And is he the one? Well, that’s for you to find out when you read it – but I will tell you that I loved every moment of the story, and couldn’t recommend this wonderful book more highly. It’s very different, it’s unpredictable, it’s emotional, it made me laugh and cry, and – by its perfect ending – it really made my heart sing. Do add it to your reading list – I think you might just love it as much as I did.

This story is about friendship and love. After an accident one of three friends has a dream and decides to go in search of “The One”. There are twists and turns but her long term friends help her carry on.. I highly recommend this book. Clare Swatman has become a favourite author of mine.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored this book. I completely related to the characters. The women are brilliant, their friendship gorgeous to read. And the adventure to possibly find true love.....it had me hooked from start to finish!

I have enjoyed Clare Swatman's previous books so I was keen to read this one.

What worked well for me:
⭐️The characters were well written and interesting
⭐️There was a strong theme of friendship
⭐️The pacing and tension worked well to build the story
⭐️I cared about the characters and wanted the / a love story to work out
⭐️The idea was interesting and i do like a bit of magic realism
What worked less well for me:
🌥The story arc relied on heavy coincidence and lots of assumptions and it was hard to suspend disbelief at times.
🌈Overall it was an uplifting and heartwarming read with a satisfying ending.

Miranda has an accident on her bike and gets taken to hospital, she then starts having dreams about her dream man she saw at the accident. She has a few clues or things she remembers about them to help her. She has just been made redundant, her children have left home and she is divorced so she moves to Newcastle, gets some temporary teacher work, rents out her home and sets about trying to find Jay.

She meets Matt who she tells her story and he helps her out by showing her the local area, her two best friends from London visit and keep in touch. Then she finds Jay, or has she and is he the right person for her?

This book was a lovely book to read and I will be looking for more by this author.

Clare Swatman's 'Five Things I Love About You' is a heartwarming and inspiring story of second chances and self-discovery. Miranda, threatened by a predictable existence, is attracted to an enigmatic man in her dreams, prompted by five specific clues. Her journey of relearning courage and accepting the prospect of love is told through the story.

The author's affable, chatty tone makes the tale easy and enjoyable to follow, while the "five clues" format introduces an element of suspense. The emphasis on Miranda's individual development as well as the romance seems in good balance. Secondary characters might be fleshed out a bit more, but overall, the book ultimately has a reassuring and uplifting message regarding taking leaps of faith. It's an attractive book for fans of tales about do-overs and the wonder of surprise encounters.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it great characters loved the friendship between the three ladies and it had lots of humour and fun throughout the book. When Miranda has a chance meeting with a stranger after an accident her two friends encourage her to leave London and go to Newcastle to try and find him and what transpires makes this a really interesting and romantic read especially when she meets Matt who she is immediately attracted to but will she still want to find the stranger who she thinks is the man of her dreams..A lovely read and a great story

Huge Thank you to Boldwood publishers for asking me to review this brilliant read .

i loved Clare's last book so i knew straight away this was going to be a book i love .

i thought it was wonderful and cosy this love story i would say is a big hug in a book I loved the plot i thought the friends to lovers was so well written .more light heart compared to some i read i think i really need that ,i thought the writing was wonderful Clare always captivates me .

as for the characters oh gosh i cant pick one but they was all so wonderful and quirky in their own way .

if you enjoy friends to lovers reads then this is for you

I am giving the book 4.5 cosy loving stars

A wonderful heartwarming story that felt like a cosy hug from a special friend. So easy to pick up and read a few pages in between other jobs yet difficult to put down when you really need to.

This gorgeous book coincided with my need for romance—the heartachingly gorgeous type that fills your soul with warmth and contentment that cannot be ignored. I knew that a book by Clare Swatman would tick those boxes, so I was delighted to see that this was next on my reading schedule.
Opening up with a bicycle accident that saw our main protagonist hospitalised was the drama that I have come to expect from this author. Miranda has practically sailed through an amicable divorce, but learning that her job is being made redundant was not on her bingo card. Lying in her hospital bed, she relives the point of impact where she was avoiding a handsome pedestrian, now she can’t get him out of her head. She knows he’s attractive, even though her dreams only offer a blurred version of his face and a pink tie! Thankfully, she recalls him speaking with a Geordie accent, so she decides to track him down by moving to Newcastle. What can go wrong?
Miranda has a terrific support group in the form of her friends, Sophie and Kirstie, so she takes the leap of faith with their backing. Their friendship bonds are enviable, providing a terrific foundation for this gorgeous story. It’s Miranda herself who really captured my imagination; her spirit was admirable, and I’m sure that I wouldn’t have more than a tiny bit of her bravery.
From concept to execution, this book held my attention, and I couldn’t have loved it more. It oozed romance, even though it was frustrating to follow her choices, and I found myself shouting at a fictional character. The premise felt fresh, and the storytelling engaged me from the opening lines.
If you can’t tell already, I loved it.

This one surprised me actually in a good way for several reasons:
1. It's has more mature protagonists. they are late 40s/early 50s which is refreshing.
2. Has a very sentimental part of the book to do with dogs that actually made me teary. I always say if a book can make you cry then it's doing something right.
3. It's got a magical realism element to it (dream prophecy) which i loved.
4. A lot of this book also focuses on the friendships of the main character which was absolutely fabulous. These friends were ride or die and I loved it.
5. The characters didn't have the misunderstanding trope which I hate or the imaturity we sometimes get when characters are dating which was so refreshing.

If you are looking for more mature characters whilst still being fun and sweet and heartfelt then give this book a chance please.
Just one niggle. I would have liked an epilogue on this one as the ending just seemed slight uprupt.

Many thanks to Boldworld books for providing me a copy of the book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Five Things I Love About You by Clare Swatman is a sweet, uplifting story about friendship, self-discovery, and the unexpected turns life can take when you’re brave enough to start over. While I’ve had mixed feelings it was a pleasant surprise, offering emotional depth and a heartwarming message at its core.

The real star of the book is the friendship—it’s heartfelt, authentic, and adds so much warmth to the story. While I didn’t always connect with the main character’s choices and the ending felt a little too abrupt, the emotional honesty and themes of growth and connection truly resonated. It’s a story about rediscovering joy, letting go of regrets, and trusting that sometimes the universe nudges us exactly where we need to be. A comforting read for those who enjoy hopeful women’s fiction with a touch of magic.

What led Miranda to seek her soul mate? And move half way across the country to do it?
When Miranda is knocked of her bike a fleeting glimpse of a man results in recurring dreams that give her 5 clues to his identity.
An enjoyable, lighthearted read about whether fate needs a hand or not.
Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.