Youngest of four siblings and the only one that everyone in her family speaks with, Maisie has a need to clean and organize everything, has a Russian-Olympic level trick performing hamster named Nigel, and has just quit her marketing job at a local brewery after finding her boyfriend and boss with his tongue down another woman’s throat. Devastated from the loss, and not sure about her next step, she finds a job opening at a local auction house, Gildersleeves, which is populated with quirky and unique characters. Mistaking one of the owners of the business for a thief, she’s faced with her undeniable attraction but it’s all in vain: wrongly assuming that he’s involved with his rather OTT partner in the business, she doesn’t suffer the tongue-tied gaps, or the worries – he’s only friend material.

But a box arrives with a tea set (or part of one) that she remembers from her childhood, the neighbor who was a source of sense and solace when her parents split is part of a lot going on auction: and she’s determined to buy the set, locate the other pieces and bring it together, much as she hopes to gather her family together to celebrate Christmas – trying to duplicate the last (and happiest) Christmas she remembered from just before the divorce. With the tea set purchased, as well as an unexpected “bonus” of four boxes of naked and deviant garden gnomes, she’s starting her journey to better understand her former neighbor, and bring the set to completion.

Such a fun tale: Maisie is a wonderfully sympathetic character with clearly defined issues, a heart of gold, and a rather obsessive need to have control over her environment, except in her “spare” room – where paint flies and colors splatter as she burns off emotional tension with Pollack-like paintings. With each of her siblings, her dramatically emotional mother, philandering father and some lovely characters at the auction house, including Arthur and Ella, the story is light, fresh and humorous – with a surprising emotional depth as the extent of Maisie’s emotional stunting and fears come into focus. With plenty of laugh out loud moments (many from Nigel the gymnastically-inclined hamster), Maisie’s determination to have everything in a place and a place for everything – as well as some truly clever moments that bring the family of her former neighbor together, this was a wonderful escape read with plenty of laughter, light and love to make readers turn that last page with a smile, and a favorite read of the summer!

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-auE /”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Firstly I have to thank Netgalley and the Publishers for allowing me to access this cute book!
This is a very cute story. It is exactly as I expected it would be. The characters are so lovely and charming. And I absolutely adore the cover which is a bonus for me!
I adored maisie and her promise to avoid relationship is admirable even when she began to like Theo was noteworthy. I really felt bad for her beause of her history with her boyfriends. And getting dumped on new years eve definately sucks!Her family was totally bonkers thats saying something. To put it simply, this book is charming and left me with a warm feeling after I finished it! Its so well narrated and the charters are lovely that you couldn't put it down. I devoured it in one go!... This is my first Jenny Keer book but won't be my last! I loved reading it and hope ya'll enjoy it too...happy reading!

I really enjoyed the author's previous book: The Hopes and Dreams of Lucy Baker and looked forward to this one! It did not disappoint. 

The tale did not have a very auspicious beginning, Maisie and her boyfriend were the first chapter and I sighed at the standard beginning and have to truthfully admit I was a little apprehensive since I have not been picking books to my taste very often recently and have had to switch around a little to find the right one. By the second chapter, I was reassured by the way the tale was turning and soldiered on. The story then picks up pace, Maisie makes a life change and lands an odd but interesting job surrounded by people who could be caricatures of themselves. This delightful setup in an auction house raises the stakes for all forms of miscommunication between almost all of the people in the narrative. Although I guessed all the times when lines were crossed and there were missed opportunities, it was still fun to watch a few of them unfold (the others had me rushing them on under my breath to speak more clearly to each other- a trait of talking to the characters symbolizes a positive influence in my opinion, however annoyed the talk may be).

Maisie has had a troubled upbringing, parts of which she is only now confronting. The baby of the family tries to be the glue who holds the tattered fragments of her three siblings and separated parents together but she is not doing anyone any favours. Some of the turns of the story were too convenient but on the whole, was an encouraging read.I liked the first one better although I liked the magical element of this one and its 'side effects' more than the cat in the other book.

I would recommend this to people who are on the lookout for a book in the uplit genre without too much of conflict apart from the family kind.

Just like the blurb says, this is a charming story of a woman who discovers that things are what you decide then to he. With a little help from an unlikely source (with a dash of magic), Maisie gets to have her family together. For those who’ve read the book, you know what I mean. :)

Working in an auction house seems so interesting and the auction house is full of unique characters. Arthur, Elle, Johnny, Irene... Can’t picture Theo in my head. Help pls? I kept changing his appearance...

And the crosses signals between Maisie and Theo, I wanted to knock their heads together.

Overall, really charming book.

Thanks NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for a copy of the book.

This was an intriguing reading and I really enjoyed it. It's not your average romance as the tea set element gives it a magical twist that adds a whole layer to the story. Many of the characters at the auction house are just lovely and I swung between giggles and trying not to sniffle as the complicated lives they leave and their secrets long kept unravelled. One to keep you up far later than you should be.

This book was both a surprise and a normal contemporary. I really liked how Maisie was indipentent and strong, with a deep security of what was right and what was wrong and never condecending to others. Aside from her, all the characters were flat even tho they were described in details, and I don't know what didn't work for me. The plot was really simple if not for the Teapot Set and I found it really sweet, with all this old sisters reunited after so many years! The family dinamic between the Meadows was really messed up and really relatable, I felt deeply for her struggle. Overall, a nice fluffy contemporary that made me smile.

It was mostly an okay read, but I got frustrated with some of the drama and the communication between characters.
Not bad, but not outstanding. I had to push myself to finish this.
Not my cup of tea, but if you like quirky "find-yourself" romance sprinkled with family drama, this one's for you.

Thanks Netgalley for providing me with a copy.

💜The Unlikely Life of Masie Meadows, by Jenni Keer is a really delightful story of love, family, friendship, and hope; sprinkled liberally with humor and lightly with bits of magic. Reminds me a bit of Amelie, Like Water For Chocolate, and Chocolat. 💜Thank you Net Galley, and Jenni Keer for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

We follow Maisie Meadows in this story. She finds herself single and with no job at the beginning of the year. Turns you her ex, who also was her boss had an affair. She wants to bring her family back together and also starts a new job at an auction house.

At the auction house she meets Theo, who really seems to distract her. A connection builds between them and that was great to read about.
Maisie’s family is quite something. Her siblings are scattered around the world and when they all finally come together things kind of explode. There is a lot of drama invloved and things oft he past are revealed. This makes for an excting storyline, which Jenni Keer transmitted in a great way.

Her writing is fresh, funny and engaging, I loved every minute of this book.
It’s about family, friendship, love, relationships and so much more.

Charming, sweet and full of excitement!

I always enjoy a story with a bit of magic interwoven throughout and it in no way jarred in this story. You can escape into Maisie Meadow's world as she starts out to find the missing parts of the mysterious black and white tea set. You can easily visualise the world of antiques at Gildersleeve's and you get to meet such a variety of people through it. There are all ages and Maisie seems to have a talent at bringing people together.

Behind the search for the missing tea set lies Maisie's desire to bring her scattered family together. They all have their own stories and you get to find out a lot about Maisie and her hopes for the future through them. Theo is a great character, full of unconscious charm. Particularly touching is the relationship which Theo and Maisie form with Arthur which really adds to the charm of the story.

In short: A charming story with a touch of magic.

Thanks to the author for a copy of the book

A quirky and interesting read.

Maisie loses her job and boyfriend the same day. She ends up taking a job at an auction house, where she meets an eclectic range of interesting characters. I loved how Maisie tries to bring her family back together but ends up creating her own family made up her new friends instead.

Overall a great read.

I was super bored reading this one. Nobody is interesting. Nobody does anything. Everything is dull and sad.

A cute charming read about Masie a girl determined to change her life and the struggles in her family. She starts fresh with a new job at a auction house sorting through other peoples dicarded belongings and trying to solely focus on bettering herself and her family when she crosses paths with Theo a attractive man who seems completely unattainable but so irresistible at the same time. Seeing Masie struggle to keep her distance and focus away from Theo was so fun and entertaining it made this book fly by lightning fast and made every second enjoyable!

I choose this book because my daughter is named Maisie. While it is an easy read, it took me a long time to get into it. I am not super fond of the character Maisie as we don't really relate. The characters seem nice enough, but I do not really care what happens to them. While the author tries to play the tea set with the family coming together, it seems far fetched.

There is one part of the book that I keep coming back to. Early on, Theo explains his friendship with Arthur- a man who is very different from himself. He talks about how much more interesting life is when your friends aren't all the same as you are. I need to remember that and branch out more. It is true, differences are what make up special and we need to celebrate each other's differences.

This book was such a delight to read.

Jenni Keer laces a story with magic interwoven throughout her words, casting a spell upon readers as they fall in love with Maisie Meadows as they read. I highly recommend this book about growth, maturity, and magic.

The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows is such a delightful read. Jenni Keer's book is just the one to pick if you are looking for a feel-good book that leaves you with a smile on your face.

At the onset, it might appear to be just a story of a woman from a broken, dysfunctional family desperate to bring her family together, but is a lot more than that. With a bit of 'magic' of course. I particularly enjoyed how each character was etched and how their story unfolded. The way the tea set was incorporated to take the story forward made it a wonderful read. I did feel the romance aspect was the weakest in the book, though.

I highly recommend the book and am looking forward to reading more books by the author.

This was just not for me. I hadn’t read the author’s previous book so I went into this one without understanding the style of storytelling. I won’t be trying these again, but I’m sure the audience is out there for it.

4☆ An Engrossing, Enchanting Feel Good Read with a sprinkle of Magic.

The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows is a compelling, enchanting and beautifully written story with a sparkle of magic, romance, emotion and humour.

Maisie finds herself without a job and boyfriend (who was also her boss) after she discovers him having it away with the newest member of staff, which leaves her no option but to hand her notice In.
So she sets out to find herself a new job, landing herself a wonderful new job in a quaint auction house Gildersleeves where they are plenty of quirky and eccentric characters and antiques to keep her busy.

But what is really intriguing is the antique tea set Maisie discovers, which she believes is of sentimental value.
So she sets out to find out more and to piece together the mystery and magic behind the Tea Set.
Which could just be the thing that helps bring her family together.

Maisie is such an endearing character, in fact all of the characters are superbly written. They are quirky, a lil eccentric loveable characters each with compelling sub storylines that make for an engrossing read!

The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows is an Enchanting, highly Compelling Read with a dash of Mystery and Intrigue, a sprinkle of Magic, a good dose of Humour and Romance to make you feel good.
This is very much a character driven story, about Family, Family Relationships, Reuniting Family, Connections, Romance, Friendship, Antiques and a Tea Set.
There are a few cleverly plotted twists which simply added to the mystery and intrigue perfectly.

If you are looking for a Warm and Cosy, Feel Good Women's Fiction that has a sprinkle of all things great, then you will love The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows.

I'm really looking forward to reading more from Jenni Keer.

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This was a really cute book how about a character trying to make sense of her life, both her upbringing in a divorced home as well as the current state of her family and personal life. I enjoyed the book but it took me a really long time to connect with a characters and ultimately just felt long. There are several twists in the book that I predicted fairly early on but it wasn't unpleasant getting to them. I would recommend the book with the caveat of being patient, both of the characters and the storyline.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest opinions.

Trigger warnings: nothing extreme to speak of that I remember

The Unlikely Life of Maisie Meadows by Jenni Keer
Source: NetGalley and Avon Books UK
Rating: 4/5 stars

It all started with a kiss . . . .

Unfortunately for Maisie Meadows that kiss happened between her boyfriend/boss and another woman which has left Maisie without a job and without a boyfriend. With nothing but time on her hands, Maisie resolves to 1) find a job and, 2) bring her tremendously fractured family back together. Yeah, with any luck, it’s going to be a big year for Maisie Meadows.

Getting her family back together is going to be a long process so Maisie begins with the new job part of her list. With little effort, Maisie lands a new job as the marketing guru of a local auction house. From the moment she sets foot inside the auction house, Maisie feels more at home than she ever did in all the years at her old job. The auction house is filled with interesting, quirky characters, all of whom have their own unique story to tell. What’s more, the items and treasures that come into the auction house are, generally speaking, wonderful old items that have, like the employees, their own unique stories to tell. Between the employees and the auction items, Maisie’s job practically completes itself leaving her with time to worry on how to get her family back together.

Maisie’s family isn’t just fractured, they’re broken. Her mother and father can’t be in the same room as one another and often trade barbs through their children. Maisie’s beloved sister is giving up her dream of living abroad and returning to England, her other far less beloved sister has appeared on Maisie’s doorstep in need of refuge, and her brother simply can’t be bothered to return to the fold for any reason. Getting this group back together isn’t going to be easy, but Maisie is determined and has faith in her family. The problem is, Maisie is the youngest and perhaps the most naïve of the bunch and has no idea the secrets being held by her siblings and parents. As events unfold, it seems Maisie’s family is hell-bent on revealing every deep, dark secret they have and that only serves to separate them more than set them free and bring them back together.

The Bottom Line: In so many ways, Maisie Meadows reminds me of a puppy, so excited, so enthusiastic, and so naïve about the ways of the world. As Maisie’s story unfolds, she loses so much of her naiveite and gains a load of maturity. With only the best intentions, Maisie learns the hard way that some things, families included are simply too broken, too angry, and too hurt to be brought back together. Furthermore, Maisie learns that not all family is blood and love is often found (and re-discovered) in the most unexpected places. The strength of this story lies in Maisie’s ability to learn from her mistakes, to be open to love, and to accept that not every goal is achievable in the way one plans for. My particular enjoyment in this book came from the very unexpected nature of the story: there are twists and turns, the past comes crashing into the present, and nothing, not even some of the characters are at all what they seem. In all, I found this standalone book to be quite enjoyable, entertaining, and wholly unexpected in the best way possible.