Actual rating 3.75⭐️

If you’re looking for a gentle charming romance to melt your heart and make you feel all gooey inside then The Start of Something might just fit the bill. Lachlan Wallace,an army captain is living alone in his flat, recuperating from a terrible injury, with only his cat Ernie and dog Bert for company. With plenty of time to watch the world go by from his window his attention is drawn to a neighbouring flat where it would seem a new tenant is moving in. Over the coming days he catches glimpses of the woman inside the flat and when his eyes are drawn to the colourful flowers on display in her window Lachlan comes up with a simple but rather ingenious way to begin a conversation without having to leave the confines of his flat.

It is this quaint form of communication that Lachlan instigates that is the selling point of this novel. The idea of conversing and striking up a friendship via handwritten messages taped to your window is such a lovely thoughtful one given most of the population have their heads down and eyes glued to their phone screens as they rapidly text or swipe left or right! To me it seems like an incredibly romantic way in which to slowly get to know someone and form a first impression without immediately judging that person by physical appearance alone which is what we all tend to do. In Lachlan and Bethan’s case there’s that mystery element of not knowing what each other looks like that adds to the deliciousness of their rapidly developing relationship. Having to imagine the person behind the increasingly flirtatious messages when you can only catch the odd glimpse of a bicep or a tattoo or the back of a ponytail is quite wonderful and refreshing. You can’t help but wonder whether these two will progress from their window “conversations” to meeting face to face or whether they’ll remain hidden, too shy and wary to take the next brave step. Who, if either of them will make the first move??

If like me you read a lot of this type of fiction then you’ll realise what Miranda Dickinson is offering conforms to the usual tried and trusted formula with the main characters paths following the standard trajectory. She fulfils the brief in terms of comfort reading as this storyline is undemanding, inoffensive but utterly charming. Your mind is free to drift to a happy safe secure place, the author tapping into that small section of your brain where childhood dreams of princesses marrying their handsome prince and living happily ever after still linger. As a child who grew up on a diet of Enid Blyton, this book represents the adult equivalent and there’s nothing wrong with that!

The two main characters are lovely even if they don’t particularly stand out from the crowd. Both are scarred individuals whether that be physically or mentally but you hope that just maybe they can heal together. It might be the start of a slow burning romance but as we all know slow and steady wins the race! Besides the obvious romantic element it is the theme of friendship that makes this such a comforting and uplifting read. No man is an island and however much we might enjoy our own company, us humans are social creatures at heart so friendship is vital for our well being. That’s especially true for Lachlan who’s not in the best physical health and having a tough time coming to terms with his new limitations and for Bethan who is a single mum to a toddler and also experiencing another form of hardship. As someone who knows first hand how lonely and insular life can be as a single parent I can honestly say I only survived those early years thanks in part to the friendships I built around me. Her story totally resonated with me as I’m sure it will with anyone who suffers from loneliness or feels isolated from the rest of society for whatever reason. Therefore it’s perfectly understandable how a friendly message from a neighbour across the way might just end up being the highlight of Bethan’s or Lachlan’s day, putting a smile on their faces, a spring in their step and restoring their faith in humanity. The thought that they are not entirely alone and someone out there (who they’ve yet to meet in person!)is thinking about them is reason enough to give them and the reader a warm fuzzy glow. Little Noah is adorable and I liked how super supportive childminder Michelle is of Bethan. Even better are the friendships that are in full bloom between this hardworking woman and her garden centre colleagues. I loved the sense of community spirit that the majority of the characters display, all pulling together when the chips are down, providing Bethan especially with a renewed sense of purpose. Bright Hill nurseries are lucky to have her as part of the team! This angle leaves you feeling extremely happy and contented and sums up the overall vibe of the novel. Naturally there are a few bad pennies to ensure the outlook isn’t always sunny together with some inevitable misunderstandings, hastily formed assumptions, a minuscule amount of prejudice and a fair bit of misplaced loyalty but fingers crossed eventually Bethan and Lachlan will come up smelling of roses!


Overall this is a lovely, gentle pleasurable read which doesn’t quite hit the 4⭐️ mark for me but comes very close! The Start of Something is the first book I’ve read from this author but on the strength of this title I’ll be sure to check out some more!

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a great idea for a romantic story - notes in the window to establish the start of a friendship for two individuals. It’s a sweet and emotional story and I really liked getting to know Lachie and Bethan as they started to share thoughts and feelings with eachother as the trust and friendship grew. I always enjoy Miranda Dickinson’s writing and this is as wonderful as always. Sensitive and warm-hearted it’s a love story to enjoy.

A wonderful meandering through a romance filled with longing, mystery and beauty. If you're looking for your next read with an uncomplicated tale, look no further you won't hesitate to recommend it near and far.

The Start of Something is a fairly predictable romance book. The writing and narrative are fine but doesn't tread any new ground or offer anything particularly insightful, witty or surprising.

I loved this book! The characters, the hidden pasts unraveling and the hope they both have. Lovely moments of cute Welsh phrases and nods to the hard times of serving in the military. Just lovely.

I read the Start of Something over a grey weekend and it is a really lovely read. The book takes the reader on the journey of Bethan and Lachie and how they grow together just from one message in the window! Really enjoyed this book!

Oh I adored this book! Loved it from the start to the finish. Such a simple idea, posters in windows and it creates such a special story that you don't want to finish, indeed I read it in one sitting. Definitely my most favourite of Miranda's books and will be recommending it to others. (Also Bert and Ernie, what a pair of names, love it!)

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This book is the story of Beth and Lachlan, told in rotating chapters.
Bethan, whose a single mother and loves her job, working in a garden centre, and she’s so happy that she’s moved to a new place and can try to build a future for herself and her son, even though she’s not fully left the past behind. The reason for this becomes clearer as the story progresses and something happens which makes Bethan reveal about her past.

Her neighbour is Lachlan, whose lives opposite with his dog 🐕 and cat 🐈‍⬛. He’s still healing from an accident and his job is on hold.

Bethan finds that even with her son, she’s lonely and Lachlan too is feeling like nothing’s going right, as they begin to converse, and start getting to know each other, and secrets are kept, will there be a happy ending?
The story started gradually, but it was still a lovely read.

Recommend It.

Firstly a big thank you to hq for my copy to review on netgalley. I am a huge fan of Mirandas books.

This is a sweet romance about 2 lost souls who are neighbours and both in new chapters of their journey.

A Beautiful and heartfelt book that’s uplifting and life affirming .

It was lovely and relatable to read a single parent character who has courage,strength and resilience.

I loved the sound of Lachlan from his tattoos to his alternative way of communicating.

Published 3rd February and if you’re yet to discover the beauty of mirandas imagination… welcome.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book. I found this story a bit slow and really struggled to get into it and it never really gripped me.
As with all this authors books it was beautifully written and the characters were well drawn and realistic but it didn’t really do it for me.

Lachie is a soldier recovering from a car accident with only his cat and dog for company, Bethan is a single mum who works in a garden centre and has just moved into the flat across from Lachie's
2 lonely people struggling with life who begin a friendship with a note in Lachie's window asking Bethan what her flowers were.
A lovely heartwarming read

What a lovely story.
I do love Miranda Dickinson stories as a rule and I did love this one too.
I loved the messages in the window it was really heartwarming. I did feel it was a little slow in the middle but then it picked up again.
I couldn’t put it down a great easy read.

Although there was nothing groundbreakingly different in this book, it was one I didn’t want to put down. I liked the characters (and disliked the ones you’re supposed to) and enjoyed the story. I also liked the added elements of backstory to make this more than just your average romance. And I like the fact it didn’t follow the exact pattern of every rom-com ever (you do start waiting for the moment one of them messes up but there is a bit more to this than just that formula). A great holiday read.

I found this quite slow to start with so it didn't pull me in. This really set the tone for the rest of the book as I found it quite predictable. It's not normally my genre but wanted to try something new so I expect that's why it did not appeal to me. In saying that it was well written but just not for me

What a gorgeous story. I loved the two main characters and how they met and became friends is adorable. I liked how they were each battling their own issues and it isn’t a case of being ‘ rescued’ from them. Really great absorbing read

A love story which starts over a bunch of flowers in the window.
Lachlan and Bethan end up living next door to each other - both hiding different troubles in life. They start to communicate through messages in their windows and build a relationship.
They both have a lot of things going on in their lives and as they say...... The path to true love never runs smoothly.

A wonderful, heartwarming book that will warm the coldest of hearts.
A fabulous read......... Highly recommended.

An enjoyable read which would be perfect for a rainy day or reading on a beach. I loved the characters and their separate stories, and whilst I enjoyed the concept of the way the leads met, I felt that I would have liked more of them actually together before they were declaring undying love.

I started off apprehensive with this book, but quickly saw the allure of the two main characters, the way they interacted, and their storylines which were slowly introduced throughout the book. Bethan was such a strong and independent woman, it was inspiring reading how she lived her life, and loved her son with her entire being. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for Lachlan, who’s misfortune seemed to be someone else’s fault. And I know I wasn’t alone in waiting on the edge for the moment we all wish for in a romance, the moment they realise they’ve fallen in love. Once I started reading this, I was hooked. It was such a good, easy read, and I just couldn’t put it down.

I enjoyed this book, the characters are engaging and feel very real, even the minor ones. I would love to read more about the Garden Centre and the people there.

Widge ranging, emotionally packed and very very cute romance. The tale takes its time meandering through some chunky issues for both Lachlan and Bethan which really draws you in and makes you root for both of them. The love story is at the same time secondary to the discoveries that our couple are making in their lives whilst at the same time absolutely central to who they are becoming and how they’ll get there. The book is beautifully written and there are some wry flashes of humour as well as some low point that have your empathising with those involved,