This is a really joyful novel and exploration of platonic and romantic relationships, which I would recommend to any fan of contemporary women’s fiction. The pace of the novel is fantastic - intrigue as to what is next for the main character builds almost like a thriller - but this left me in two minds about the quick resolution at the end of the novel & I wanted more! That said, I was very pleased Serena, the main character, gets a happy resolution.

This was a simple, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Serena leaves her fiancé at the altar and changes her life completely moving to live in London. her self esteem is at low ebb due to her weight which she feels no-one will ever be able to see past. A plan to have a different date every week to find the man of her dreams seems to be the way out. Funny, heart rending , a lovely story showing how self esteem can be boosted.

A real upbeat, feel-good read which will leave you feeling satisfied. Plus-size representations are pretty rare for me to read, but I did find this one especially positive, particularly when there is a fashion vibe playing a big role in the story; where, lets face it, body positivity still has a long way to go. I found Serena to be really brave and you get a strong sense of female empowerment through the other characters too. I also liked that the ex was a nice guy who, after 10 years together, she’s just not in love with anymore and I loved all Serena's dating escapades, which kept me highly entertained.

If you are looking for a lighthearted, feel-good read, this would make a good choice when it is out on 31st March. Many thanks to NetGallery and HarperCollins UK for approving my request for a copy of the book in advance.

Leaving your husband to be on the day of the wedding. Leaving the home you shared and your job to move to London.
Everything changed but is it all for the good. Rebuilding a life, making friends and colleagues. Follow Serenas journey and cheer her on through the ups and downs. I really enjoyed this story.

It's Serenas wedding day. The day she finally marries Alastair, with his beautiful green eyes, his security and stability, and a complete lack of that dating drama her friends always seem to talk about. She is so lucky to have him, at least that's what everyone tells her.

But instead of walking down the aisle, she's sitting alone in a Harvester with a large glass of wine and facing the reality she just jilted a man at the altar … kind of. After a decade together, she'd been told so many times how perfect they were together that she never stopped to figure out if it was enough for her.

She knows somewhere out there, something is waiting for her. A love story, an entire new life could be waiting and she's not going to keep waiting for it to find her. So after moving in with a friend, she sets herself a challenge - this year she's going to try new things, and go on a date every week. 52 weeks, 52 dates. 52 changes to figure out what she really wants from a partner, 52 chances at true love. What could possibly go wrong?

"I guess ... I'm just a little lost. I feel like I haven't really been in control of my life, like it was just happening and I was there but not really participating."

With that patented Bethany Rutter charm, this story is full of wit and sharp humour. A little steamy to get you hot under the collar, a little humour to make your cheeks ache and just enough sticky sweet romance that might make your teeth hurt.

With a cast of strong women who made me feel instant sisterhood - especially Serena. She was a real, beautiful woman with doubts, fears, mistakes but confidence and love. She's a stunning fat woman who doesn't let the size of her belly define her despite what the media-taught insecurities tell her.

It was far too easy to read this all it one sitting, I was in love with Serena and her mission from the start. A full of riotous journey of self-discovery and self-love with indulgent romance and lots of fun.

I mean, it's a Bethany Rutter novel, what did you expect?

Funny, fun, feel good, life affirming, joyous and awesome. I loved the characters and the storyline really left me smiling from ear to ear. A really great well written book.

A really enjoyable read. It had me frustrated and giggling in between chapters. An honest and open picture of the current dating life in London.

This book was doing sooooo well, then stumbled towards the finish line. As a hardened, world-weary user of the dating apps who continues to be stranded in the trenches, for 8 years and counting - this had, quite possibly, the best depiction of dating app usage possible. It's grim and Bethany doesn't shy away from it. The dates and the friendships are so brilliantly rendered. But the ending is so quick, convenient and perfect, that my jaded heart just didn't buy it.
If I could split my review, 97% of the book gets 5 stars. It was so bingeable, funny and bittersweet. I just didn't gel with the end..

Serena is supposed to be getting married, but instead she flees. Her relationship isn’t right anymore. There’s no excitement anymore, there’s no fun, and while she at love her fiancé, she’s not so sure she’s in love with him anymore. So she moves to London to rediscover herself, who is she, and what she wants from life and love.

I’ve loved Bethanys first two novels for YA audiences, but this is her first adult book. It’s part a fun romcom, with London being as much of a main character as Serena herself. I love the way Bethany writes characters. Serena is so relatable in so many ways, but I love her dialogue and the way she speaks with her friends. It reminded me of how Bethany speaks on her podcast What Page Are You On? And is so true to real life.

Her friendships were my favourite part of this book, but I also loved the dating side of the story too. Serena is a fat gal, and while it’s realistic to the harsh ways fat people are treated in society and viewed by other people, and it touches on the insecurities we are made to have by this world, I loved how Serena wasn’t trying to lose weight. She wasn’t bothered by her body at all, rightly so. She was only bothered by other people viewing it negatively.

This is such a fun book but it also hits the feels too! I can’t wait for it to come out so everyone can love it and read it to!

I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the start, and couldn’t wait to find out what happened. Bethany is a new author for me and definitely one on my watch list. You don’t see many plus sizes women in books so I thank her for that.

What an amazing debut book this is , I absolutely loved this book and have read it in day , its made me howl with laughter and also cry , I would highly recommend this incredible book and can't wait to get a copy of it when it comes out,

I found Serena's character really relatable from the beginning, having recently ended an 8 year relationship myself for no "real" reason. Serena felt like a real person that I would want to know and be friends with.

Many books, like this one, begin with the main female character starting over and developing into herself. But where Welcome to Your Life differs is that it remains true to Serena's personality to the end and feels realistic throughout.

The storyline with Nicole and Duncan felt a bit odd, it added an extra dimension to her character I suppose, showing she can be vulnerable as well, but it felt a little out of place and almost flippant. I did find the use of the word fat to describe some of the characters a little jarring at first, but it did fit in with the realistic feel of the story and I got used to it. It was much nicer than when a character gets described as "curvy" just to try and be inclusive.

Overall, I am a big fan of this book and Rutter's style of writing. I enjoyed Serena's journey and her lovable friends, the ending was satisfying and didn't feel rushed or like she did something out of character just to tie things up nicely.

Bethany Rutter seamlessly moves more young adult to adult fiction with this easy, fun read featuring the fat protagonist we needed!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for early access to this title! Loved it! Fun & light perfect for a cosy afternoon! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone as it was just lovely!

It was so refreshing to see a protagonist who is, in her own words, fat. It’s even more refreshing to see this as a positive, rather than an excuse for fat shaming. Yes there are nods to that and thoughts that she doesn’t deserve what a skinnier person does, but overall for me, she is a character who happens to be plus size, rather than a plus-size character. It’s incidental to me. And at the same time, vitally important.

I found myself identifying with Serena more than I’ve ever identified with a fictional character before, which was a lovely touch.

It is lighthearted and funny and joyful and loving, but serious and sad and thoughtful, and above all, honest, in all its positivity and negativity. At its heart, it is a rom-com, there’s no escaping that, but it is so much more than ‘just’ a funny romantic comedy. Yes it is enjoyable to read, but it gives you something important to think about, and I think your opinions may find themselves altered by the end.

This was a quick, easy and enjoyable read.
I liked how relatable this story felt and her friends were absolutely brilliant.
I would love to read a follow up or story from the perspective of her friends after how much I adored them in this.
It was a great journey of self discovery too.
That and the fact that we see a woman who isn't stick thin in a positive light as our protagonist/main character.
I have a feeling that if you enjoy Sophie Kinsella or even the Bridget Jones books, you will like this.
This is the first book that I've read by Bethany Rutter but I would definitely be up for reading more from her in the future.

Thankyou for giving me the chance to read in advance. Love it. Just my type of novel
Hilarious and couldn’t put it down. Give it a go!

Such a wonderful, uplifting read - a brilliant addition to the genre. Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella.

*gifted - Netgalley*

I spent the first half of this book really enjoying it and getting to know the characters. I loved the story of a woman who felt strong and sure enough in her own feelings to walk out on her wedding day and face the uncertainty of what lies ahead.

However, I then got bored after that. It was just a big wheel of repetition - weight worries, date, weight worries, Henry, date. I just got bored of reading the same sentences about the characters weight insecurities over and over again.

There's no denying that there's a strong sense of female empowerment, which I salute. Unfortunately, I didn't really care after the first half and it was super predictable.