All You Need Is Love is a sweet romance novel that alternates chapters between Sam and Jemma. Both characters have had their share of sadness and loss. Through a mutual friend, they connect and form a friendship. Both characters want it to turn into something more yet they're holding back due to their past loves.
I actually loved this sweet gem. The characters were interesting and I couldn't help but root for these two amazing characters to stop fighting their own happiness and finally get together.

This is my first Jessica Redland novel and I hope it won't be my last! I want a Ju-Sea Jem and a Ju-Sea bear! I loved the main setting of the book in North Yorkshire and the telling of the story - I really felt as though I was a member of the Whitsborough Bay community. Beautifully told story that felt real.

I loved reading All you need is love. It is an uplifting as well as a heart-warming read!

The characters are as always amazing. They are flawed but that makes them even more relatable. There is no way one will not root for Jemma and Sam. I loved the relationship between Jemma and Sam. They both had their shares of tragedies and I loved how they both helped each other heal. I loved their growing friendship. Obstacles came into their way each and every time as they tried to take small steps towards a relationship. I loved how they together overcame these obstacles. Friends are no doubt important and they both had the strong support of their friends.
The story is narrated from the point of view of Jemma as well as Sam. This shift in Point of views helped me a lot to understand the characters, their emotions on a deeper level.

I love how Jessica adds a dash of humour to the plot. It helps in empathizing with the characters more and keeps the reader glued to the book.
Overall, “All you need is love” is a heart-warming read full of friendship, drama, heartache, hope, love and second chances

What can I say, wonderful read, fantastic author, another 5 star novel from Jessica. Her books never fail to deliver the best read possible. Always waiting for the next one to be published. Well done Jessica and thank you Jessica, very well written and a pleasure to have been able to hole this ARC.

I have to admit, every time I saw the book’s title, I burst into a (tuneless) rendition of the Beatles song. I could not help myself! However, as much as this brought me joy and happiness, I can’t say that this book from Redland was the same. After falling in love with the charming Hedgehog Hollow series, I was anticipating something along the same vein. Yet, instead I thought this book was too bleak and saddening for my liking.

Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy this story. Set in Whitsborough Bay, a familiar location to Redland’s writing, I loved the seaside setting – especially the beach and surfing references. Furthermore, the teddy bear shop – Bear with Me – was a great addition and this provided the backdrop to this emotional story. Not only are readers presented with Jemma’s mother suffering from early Parkinson’s, but she also fears her mother is showing signs of dementia. It is a traumatic time for both mother and daughter; there is a struggle to receive a thorough diagnosis from the local doctor and this does nothing but exacerbate the emotional stress that both find themselves under.

The narrative switches between Jemma and neurological doctor, Sam. His story is equally emotional. Having lost his nearly-wife to an aneurysm, Sam is naturally struggling to cope with the grief. Escaping Whitsborough Bay seemed like the ideal solution but Sam remains desperately unhappy and lonely in London. Jemma and Sam’s paths eventually cross and for me, it was not a moment too soon! The pages are full of emotion and I found the story too close for comfort. Furthermore, Redland continues to add to the sadness and tragedy that appears in the novel, meaning that I could never recover from feeling uncomfortable and reminded of personal memories.

Personally, I think this book was partly poor timing, partly an example of reading too many tragic books in succession. I could not escape the doldrums of despair when reading the story and sighed with feeling overwhelmed by emotion; there were several times where I felt I could cry it out alongside the characters! Therefore, if you have had a run of negative news, or have experienced such traumatic illnesses and loss within your own life, this might be a book you need to save for a happier, stronger time.

Despite this, there are some really lovely, romantic moments in the story. I liked how Redland switches between the two characters because there are times when the narrative continues immediately – just switched to the alternative viewpoint. I think this reinforced the connection between Sam and Jemma, making them feel even more closer as a result. Sam’s campervan – nicknamed Thor – was a great addition to the story as well. After all, how can you have a surfing-seaside story without the presence of a campervan?! Indeed, I think this was also a tie in to the title of the novel… Beatles… the sixties… campervans… Or maybe I’m reading too much into it?!

I do like reading novels by Redland but this was a bit bleaker than I was expecting. Gone are the romantic scenes to be replaced by sadness and worry. I truly felt for the characters and felt transported into their circumstances – an example of Redland’s fantastic writing. However, I think the connections to my own personal experiences meant that, this time, I could not fully engage with this story.

With thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to return to Whitsborough bay again,this time with Jemma, and her family, Mum and brother Logan. Jemma’s family has had it’s fair share of upset but Jemma has a lovely boyfriend Scott and is so in love.

She returns home to Whitsborough from London, for the weekend for her birthday. Her Mum is not her usual self and she tells Jemma that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Her mum is only 46 and Jemma is devastated, she then finds out that Scott, the love of her life is also not what she thought he was. Poor Jemma how much more will she have to endure.

Dr Sam Jones is also living with grief after the death of his beloved fiancee Nicki, he throws himself into work and tries to survive.

Two lost souls who need support and friendship end up meeting as a friend suggests that Sam maybe able to give Jemma some advice about her Mum’s diagnosis.

I love Jessica’s books they are so real and sensitively written, the subject matter in the story is really sad in places dealing with loss, illness and betrayal, however Jessica manages to write the story in a really uplifting way and you know there is hope.

I love revisting Castle Street and I love that Jemma’s mum owns the Bear with me shop there and that Jemma is a huge bear fan.

Another 5 star gorgeous trip to Whitsborough Bay which never fails to lift my spirits and particularly at the moment a virtual trip to the seaside was just what I needed.

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Rachel at Random Resources for my invitation to the tour and to Boldwood for my copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.

I would just like to say a very big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and Netgalley for very kindly forwarding me a copy of this book, for my Kindle, in return for an honest review.
This book was previously released as Bear With Me and has recently had a title revamp.
I have read another of this authors books and loved it and this one was also wonderful and I loved it too.
I really enjoyed this story, it was so interesting and quite a few parts kept giving my heart a little tug.
As soon as I started to read it I became lost in the wonderful story with lovely characters and got swept along with the gorgeous storyline, right to the very end.
I will definitely be reading more from Jessica, I love her books.

All You Need is Love by Jessica Redland isn’t my typical read, but it was definitely a refreshing one! I needed a good romance! A sucker for covers, I was instantly drawn towards this one. It’s so colorful and happy feeling!

This is a heartwarming novel about love – both lost and found – that tackles several difficult topics. There were sad moments and happy moments in this story that centered around two characters, Sam and Jemma, whom both have experienced loss. The book alternates between their POVs as they gradually come together in their lives.

This was my first Jessica Redland book, but I will definitely be reading more in the future!

This is truly a heartwarming story about love lost and love found. I shed tears and I laughed out loud, but mostly I cheered for Jemma and Sam. Their stories are sad, but they are so right for each other. With Sam’s calm and caring nature, and Jemma’s unending compassion and honesty, they couldn’t be more perfect for each other.

Jemma’s love for her family can be seen in her concern and the important life decisions she makes for her mother’s illness and mood swings. Jemma is a very forgiving person when it comes to Scott’s shocking lies and how he just disappears from her life after such an important night. I have never been ghosted, but I think the author does a great job explaining how it destroys someone’s trust and self-confidence. Jemma takes it in stride with the support and unadulterated honesty of her awesome friends and family. After all, she has more important things to think about such as finding help for her mother and taking care of her little brother.

Sam’s decision to move to London is not what he thought it would be. My heart breaks for how he lost his fiancée and to see him so lonely in such a large city is so sad. So when he meets Jemma who happens to be from his hometown of Whitsborough Bay, they really hit it off and change each other’s lives for the better.

As their friendship grows and they open up to each other, Sam and Jemma realize they have an intense connection that may go beyond just friendship. But Sam’s guilt and Jemma’s lack of trust give them pause. Though frustrating at times to see them go forward and then take two steps back, their honesty stays true and they finally have a HEA ending.

I also wanted to mention that I love the Ju-Sea Bears and Jemma’s mom’s Bear With Me shop. What a fun job to have making teddy bears!

I recommend this lovely story filled with heartache and happiness. The characters are believable, and I enjoyed the plotline and the beautiful scenery of Whitsborough Bay. Ms. Redland does a great job covering very important subject matter including Parkinson’s Disease, death, grief, and ghosting.

Thank you to Ms. Redland for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

All You Need Is Love is the first book I've read by Jessica Redland and it will not be the last. If you are looking for something that is ultimately uplifting in its message look no further. Jemma, living the single life in London, can't believe when she has a chance encounter with charming Scott. Having moved from Whitsborough Bay, her flat-mates become her London family and are caught up in the excitement of her happiness with Scott until Jemma receives startling news and realizes that everything she thought she knew was wrong. In a parallel story, Sam, a talented physician who has been unlucky in love has his world turned upside down when a chance set up leads to what he thinks is his happily ever after-until tragedy strikes. Sam leaves behind everything he knows in an attempt to escape and heads to London to build a new life. When an unexpected encounter with Jemma occurs, they strike up a friendship. Can they overcome the past to forge a new future?

The characters are delightful, Redland creates memorable moments and tugs on your heartstrings.
f you're a fan of rom-coms and women's fiction you will enjoy this uplifting novel-and want to visit the North Yorkshire coast!

Thank you to the writer, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Wow! Fabulous book. Jessica never let's you down! Brilliant, heartfelt writing, wonderful story about life, love, loss and family, but so much more than that too.
What a glorious story. I love everything about it, the characters, the cover and just from the front to the back page was brilliant.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers and the author for the privilege to read this book for my honest opinion

Oh my goodness. I loved this latest visit to Whitsborough Bay. Although the story is also set partly in London, it was the scenes at home that stole my heart. Jemma is living and working at a museum in London. She meets and falls for Scott. Scott travels a lot for work, but they get together when they can. At her 28th birthday party, he proposes to her and she is so happy. Shortly after that, he gets an emergency call from work and he has to leave. He leaves Jemma with a bit of a cryptic message and when he ghosts her, she knows something is wrong. Of course he is married and his wife has just given birth to twins. She is devastated. Throw in that her mother has just been diagnosed with Parkinsons, her father was recently killed by a drunk driver and there is a chance that her mother also has dementia. How much can one person take. Then she meets Sam. Sam is a doctor working in London but was originally from Whistborough Bay. He left when his fiancée died of an aneurysm. There is a bit of an attraction there, but they are both so wounded with so much baggage, will they be able to connect.

I am not going to say anything else about the plot of this story, because I do not want to spoil it for you. I will say that I was an emotional mess after reading this one. It does have a happy ending in one way, but very sad in another. Jemma and Sam are lucky to have such great friends and family so they have a lot of support to get through these things. There is some angst in this one, but it all builds up to a fantastic ending. The path Jemma and Sam took was a bumpy, uphill climb with bad timing, false starts and a few roadblocks. I was cheering for them to get together, but they had a path they had to take. This book was well-written, easy to follow even with several twists, well-paced and entertaining. We see Jessica Redland's quirky and fun humour throughout that I have come to love. Definitely another winner.

The book opens, quite unexpectedly, with a sad event. Jemma’s family are preparing to attend her father’s funeral. Obviously, this creates an emotional and tense atmosphere straight away. However, Jessica also manages to inject some subtle and carefully placed humour.

The pace and flow of the book is quickly established, so it completely held my attention. I liked the way that we read about events from both Sam and Jemma’s perspectives.

The book is filled with drama, and deals with many real life issues, which adds texture and layers to the overarching romance story. One particular storyline that struck a chord with me was that one of the characters had Parkinson’s Disease. My grandad died of a stroke related to this debilitating illness. I think the way the writer has portrayed this shows a huge amount of research, but also sensitivity and realism.

I absolutely loved the characters. My heart ached for Jemma at times, and Sam at others. I loved seeing the support network they have behind them and it is clear of their importance and value in their lives, therefore they also provide importance and value to the story.

Overall, this has been a dramatic, beautiful, heart-warming story about hope, love and second chances. I cannot wait to read more by this author.

All You Need Is Love is the latest delightful novel by Jessica Redland, and after reading – and falling in love – with her previous novels, this book was certainly a highly anticipated addition.

Our leading lady in this story Jemma has worked with teddy bears her whole life. A passion in which she shares with her mother that started from a young age, has lead on to a much loved career for her as an adult. Along with her recent engagement to her boyfriend of several months Scott, Jemma feels as though she has a great future ahead of her. That is until Scott suddenly stops calling her following their recent engagement, and as Jemma tries to come to terms with what caused him to abandon her completely, she has other troubles to face.

Along with her own heartache, Jemma’s mother starts acting out of character, something which would be troubling for any child to deal with. And then we meet Sam. A man who is also struggling as he battles with the memories and fallout from his own past, and doing everything he possibly can to push the pain away. Despite living in the same small town for years, Jemma and Sam only meet when they both start new jobs in London. They both have a lot of baggage, but something seems to draw these two together, and they have to decide whether they can really allow themselves to let someone in to their lives again.

This was such a beautiful, moving story that really captivated me to the very end. The storyline was wonderfully unique, and certainly took us on an emotional rollercoaster as we learn more about the characters and the struggles they have had to face. The characters were intriguing and well developed, and I loved how each of them were given their own characteristics, all of which added extra context to this brilliant story. I have always found Jessica Redland’s writing style completely immersive, and she certainly never fails to make me feel as though I am living the events alongside the characters. A truly engrossing read that I couldn’t recommend highly enough!.

Jemma thinks she’s found the love of her life. Scott is everything she ever dreamed of and she can’t wait to begin the next stage of their life together. But just as she is heading for her happy ever after, a shock revelation shatters Jemma’s life as she knows it. Left to pick up the pieces, Jemma's friends and family rally round to help her find the courage to move on.
Sam thinks he has his future all worked out. A thriving career, lovely home and an amazing fiancée. But when tragedy strikes, he finds himself alone, far from everyone he cares about. Did he do the right thing by running away and trying to rebuild the tatters of his life alone?
This is the story of Jemma and Sam. Two lost souls, desperately trying to find closure and happiness. When a chance meeting brings them together a friendship is formed, but the guards are up.
Will it finally be their turn for a happy ever after? Or will the secrets from their pasts prevent them from moving on?
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for sending me this book. Jessica Redland is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, I like her style of story telling and this is no exception. I love the series and can visualise the area which is always a good sign. I enjoyed the fact that there are reoccurring characters throughout. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone looking for a couple of hours of escapism

This novel deals with heart-breaking subjects of death, relationship breakups and the life-changing illness, Parkinson’s disease in a sensitive manner. As a spoonie, it was refreshing to read about chronic illness in a way that is part of the grander plot and seen as part of life rather than inspiration porn. The more we see disability in books like these, the better because it raises awareness and normalises things. It also helps readers see the character’s daily challenges behind the ‘I’m fine’ facade many spoonie present to the world.

Jemma is someone I could spend hours talking to about bears and life. She is honest, friendly and well-rounded. Like all Jessica Redland’s books, I slipped into a friendship group where I felt I belonged. There was chemistry and warmth between Sam and Jemma who both want a relationship, but the obstacles mean the risk is high.

WOULD I RECOMMEND?

Definitely. It is one for my forever shelf, and when I get a physical copy, it will be well thumbed with rereads. This emotional romance deals with grief and heartbreak surrounded by bears and is a joy to read. It provided a wonderful relief from lockdown’s loneliness, is highly visual with plenty going on to keep you turning the page. It would make a great film. So, grab your favourite bear to cuddle, a cup of tea and escape to the coast. Just keep your tissues handy.

What can I say, I am a sucker for adorable romances and binge watch chick films when I need a day for me. But I had never tried a romance novel until my first visit to Whitsborough Bay last year. Turns out that first visit grew into a new obsession for adorable tales about love, cute colourful covers and moments to make your heart ache with joy.

This one was no different. In Jessica’s latest novel from everyone’s favourite seaside town follows the lives of Jemma and Sam, as well as their reasons for going back home. See, Jemma is a curator at a soft toy museum, a job that she loves and living in London with three of the best friends anyone could ask for. She also has an amazing boyfriend who works away alot and is perfect for her. Or at least she thinks. After a trip back home to Whitsborough Bay for her birthday, he proposes to her and her heart leaps at their future together. But after he gets called to work due to a colleague’s family emergency, and Jemma returning back to London, he ghosts her and she needs to find out why.

Upon her journey of finding answers, her mother has been recently diagnosed with Parkinsons but Jemma has concerns over some instances that don’t align with her diagnosis. Add an extra unhelpful doctor on top. So she seeks extra help. She seeks some advice from Sam. But I’ll let Jemma and Sam tell that story, you deserve to have your heartstrings played with as much as mine were.

So question is, what did I think?

*The cover itself is adorable, cute and showcases the book in all its colourful and chirpy glory. It is one of those covers I would instantly pick up just because of the happy feelings it makes me feel.

*I loved the relationship between Jemma and Sam, the building friendship, the healing they both helped the each other with. But most of all I enjoyed the genuine feel of their relationship. They were adults. They were both damaged adults and neither one made it out to be an instant love story. They both just needed someone to be in their corner, a friend. Just one more bear for their hug.

*I love the way Jessica paints her characters. No two are the same, they aren’t replicas and always have a different story to tell. It’s safe to say Whitsborough Bay is a destination I will be revisiting for another of my bookcations (book-vacation) this year.

*In this book particularly, Jessica’s deals with tough topics professionally and emotionally well. There are some difficult topics brought up as part of the plot line and none of them felt misplaced or underdeveloped. She deals with the topic of grief exceptionally well and the after quakes it can have on an individual’s life, especially the waves of emotions that ebb during the storm. Its enough for any surfer to struggle to stay afloat. She also deals well with emotional abuse, including the act of Ghosting. Other themes include coming to terms with long-term illness and miscarriage/loss of a baby.

*I love how easy it is to read Jessica’s work, I demolished this within two sittings and struggled to put it down even though I knew I needed a break. Her writing just flows and you become addicted to her characters. It doesn’t help that you forget at times you are reading as a gorgeous love story plays out in your mind.

But I am only one reader here. A reader who found a new favourite author by chance. All I can ask is that you give a story full of second chances, Teddy bears and community a chance. Because you never know just when you might get another chance.

This was my first visit to Whitsborough Bay, but I was already a big fan of Jessica Redland's Hedgehog Hollow series and this one was just as entertaining and uplifting!

To be honest, I don't know how much I can tell you about the plot without giving the story away. There are plenty of twists and turns, which are a part of the book's charm. Jessica Redland does plenty of foreshadowing, so you do know or rather feel in your heart what is going to happen. And when it does, you are still swept away by all the emotions the ineviatble drama creates.

28-year-old Jemma is a museum curator, taking care of the children's section, which is pretty much a dream job who grew up helping her mum with her business of designing and making teddy bears. She is the sweetest person imaginable and has wonderful flatmates/flatmates, plus her childhood bestie Karen. Karen isa girl after my heart- she will tell you the truth when you are making a mistake, but will stand by you, while you are letting your broken heart heal.

Sam Jones is also trying to recover from a personal tragedy. The cover of this book isn't just gorgeous, it is also incredibly meaningful, but you will have to discover its significance and the significance of the title (actually both titles, the old and the new one are perfect) by reading. Suffice it to say that yes, Jemma and Sam both need love and maybe they can find it with each other, if they allow themselves to hope again.

Did I say how much I liked the characters, primary and secondary? There's a very special thread in the book and although I know it's a spoiler, I have to mention it. One of the characters has a neurological disorder and it is clear that the author did a huge amount of research to describe what it's like to live with it both for the person affected and their family. My grandfather had it and I cannot thank Jessica enough for raising awareness of this disease.

Jessica's trademark sense of humour makes the reader empathise with the narrative even more. Some moments and experiences will make you tear up, but bear with the book as there is a happy ending (onceagain my intention to write a spoiler-free review goes out of the window, but I just can't help myself).

I'm really glad to have discovered the wonderful world of arctophilia and I totally agree that hugging teddy bears (as well as giving them and getting them as a present) has numerous therapeutic properties and makes countless people happier every day.

I have been a fan of Jessica’s work for a little while now. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that she has written but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘All You Need Is Love’ and it certainly sounded like another amazing read from Jessica. So without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for an afternoon’s reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘All You Need Is Love’ but more about that in a bit.
The gorgeous colours of the book’s front cover were enough to grab my attention and draw me in. As soon as I started to read, I just knew that I wouldn’t be able to put the book down and that is exactly what happened. My Kindle wasn’t glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it went everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of this adorable story. Part of my enjoyment of the book was down to the main characters. Both have suffered in one way or another, both are hurting emotionally and both deserve that ‘happy ever after’ ending. I simply had to keep reading to discover how things worked out for them. I managed to finish reading ‘All You Need Is Love’ in a single afternoon which is pretty rare for me as I have trouble concentrating for long periods of time and I am easily distracted. I found ‘All You Need Is Love’ to be an adorable read, with adorable characters. I was gripped by the story throughout.
‘All You Need Is Love’ is superbly written but then to be fair all of Jessica’s books are superbly written. I don’t know how Jessica does it but somehow in each book of hers that I read, there is always something or some detail that is relevant to me and sends a little shiver down my spine. One of her books featured bullying and as I was bullied throughout school, I could certainly identify with that characters. In ‘All You Need Is Love’ we learn that Jemma’s Dad has passed away after he kept quiet for too long about the symptoms he was suffering and by the time all is revealed, it’s too late. Well I could certainly empathise with Jemma and the whole wealth of emotions she goes through and how protective she is of her mother. Not to go into too much detail but that’s the same as the situation we found ourselves in when my Dad was diagnosed with leukaemia literally on his death bed. He had covered up the symptoms he was experiencing for far too long and by the time he was diagnosed it was too late. Anyway that’s enough of my personal burblings.
I love the way in which Jessica grabs your attention and draws you into the story. She makes the characters seem so realistic that they seem just as real as you and I and I begin to think of them as friends. Jessica tackles some difficult subjects but she does it in a knid and compassionate way. I kept wanting to leap inside the pages of the book to give various characters a hug. In fact I felt as though I was part of the story and that’s thanks to Jessica’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘All You Need Is Love’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I will most definitely be reading more of Jessica’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

I loved this book I liked all the characters and how many different things were discussed like Sam losing his fiance and trying to carry on with his life but hiding rather than moving on.
And Jemma who thought she was sorted with the man of her dreams and actually couldn't be further from the truth sadly and then her mum becoming poorly.
But together every character played a part in each other's life's from friends and work colleagues. I really loved this book and kept hoping that Jemma and Sam would make it through together even with everything that felt like was being put in there way.