I really liked the idea of this story. Who hasn’t looked into a neighbours window and wondered what kind of people they are? Do they have any pets? What do they do for a living?

But this fell flat for me for a couple of reasons. Rather than being cutesy, it was dated. The pace was slow; the messages through the windows went on way too long. But my biggest problem was the protagonists. I didn’t connect with either of them - I found them annoying and cringey.

It wasn’t all bad. It was well written and I enjoyed the supporting characters far more than the protagonists. But I really had to force myself to read the first 100 pgs and although I would have liked to see out the rest of the plot, I just couldn’t deal with the characters and so it was a dnf. I may pick it up and finish it at some point, I hate leaving things unfinished, but I don’t think it will be any time soon.

Usually I’m a really romantic person but this just didn’t do it for me. The bad surpassed the good and lost my interest.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for giving me this advance copy in return for an honest review.

I loved this unusual romance. Great characters, interesting story. And Bert and Ernie. With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I thought this book was well written and can understand why people have rated it so highly, but it just wasn't for me. I thought it too much on the soppy side; I was constantly cringing at Lachie and Bethan's internal monologues and the descriptions of one another.

As I said, I think this book is good but I don't think romance as a genre is my type of book (please take this into consideration before reading).

Not as good as the description. Standard chic lit, predictable ending and drawn out storyline. Good enough idea but too long.

An absorbing and intriguing plot.

Haven't we all looked into a window and wondered about the people living there?

Lachlan Wallace is confined to his flat after an horrific car accident when he notices flowers placed in the window of the flat opposite him, he places a sign on his window with a question about the flowers. The neighbour, Bethan, answers and this is the beginning of daily messages between two strangers.

The book starts slowly with quite ordinary messages between two neighbours, although the reader learns more about Lachlan and Bethan's lives, they still remain relative strangers.

The pace soon increases as their separate lives are explained, at that point I couldn't put the book down.

I really enjoyed The Start of Something but I'm deducting one point because I had a hard time accepting the instant love between two strangers after a few non-personal messages mostly about biscuits.

The characters were believable and real, their problems came alive on the page.

This book really got me in the feels!
I was absolutely hooked from the start and couldn't put it down!
Alongside the love story were really gripping stories about the lives of Bethan and Lachlan and I felt for them both in the predicaments they were in.
I fell a little in love with Lachlan myself, and the supporting characters, even Bert and Ernie, really rounded out the story.
The start of something is a sweet love story, wrapped up with a perfect ending. Just what I needed for whiling away a rainy afternoon.

Bit slow starting this one for me. Liked Bethan and Lachlan but something didn't quite meet my expectations. Being Welsh, Bethan's Welshness and the English reactions were all about the clichés which I found a bit irritating and unrealistic.
Also felt it was in a time warp- no social media stalking? Old fashioned messages in a window? Whilst I really wanted to see it as quirky sadly it felt a little dated.
Did enjoy their backstories which made them more wholesome characters, and this comes into the fore and when it does, I enjoy.
Usually love this author, but left a little disappointed.

I really enjoyed this heartwarming book. Two lonely people - Lachlan and Bethan - live in the same flat complex and are drawn to each other. They start exchanging messages on their windows and slowly build a friendship but each has secrets. A misunderstanding leads both to question their friendship and their trust in each other.

I liked both characters and enjoyed seeing their relationship develop - a predictable ending but no less enjoyable for that.

One I will be recommending.

I received this book in return for an honest review on NetGalley.

I loved the idea of this - I thought that the notes on the windows between Bethan and Lachlan were cute and reminded me of the TikTok videos I had seen at the start of the Covid Lockdown in 2020, where people were doing things similar. However this story dragged and I found Lachlan rather immature. I understand he had been through and accident and struggling with the repercussions, but I began to hate reading from his point of view.
I thought that these window messages would turn into a real romance but it took a long time to get them to even speak in person and somehow they fell in love by speaking to each other via the window messages and then a hole in the bush, not revealing anything about themselves at all.

The back stories to the two characters were enjoyable reads at times however overall I found myself skim reading.

I have heard good things about this author so will try out some other books soon.

I made a huge mistake...by not going back to reading Miranda Dickinson's books sooner!
'The Start of Something' is written by an author at the top of her craft and I am grateful to both Harper Collins and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book prior to release.
The story of Bethan and Laclan, told in alternate chapters, gripped me from the start. Not just a romance, this also has a strong element of mystery running through the story that I was delighted to get my teeth in to, with the author keeping me guessing as long as possible; masterful!
The main protagonists garnered my sympathy and frustration in equal measures, though I felt this was exactly as and when the author intended.
To sum up, I have only one gripe - I want to know what happens next! More please, Ms. Dickinson!

A heart warming romance from Miranda Dickinson. As with most romance books I had pretty much guessed the entire plot after reading the first couple of chapters but this didn’t detract from my enjoyment of it in the slightest! The characters were believable and it was a lovely way to spend the evening curled up with a blanket. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I do enjoy a romance novel from time to time, but the usual “couple meet, don’t hit it off, something kindles, huge misunderstanding, attempt at reconciliation, another huge misunderstanding, etc…” can be a bit wearing. This romance novel is different (although there is one huge misunderstanding/misinterpretation between the two protagonists)!

I loved both Bethan and Lachie in equal measure. We recognise they are both damaged people from the start, but it takes some time for the true causes and extent of their hurt to be revealed. In the meantime their friendship and romance unfold gently, firstly via messages stuck in their windows, progressing to meeting either side of the hedge separating their apartment blocks’ gardens. We can’t wait for them to meet properly. And I was just as eager to find out their full back stories.

I found it a really enjoyable read. A bonus pleasure was the reference to the Eddie Flynn book that Lachie was reading, as I am currently part way through the series, rationing myself to one Eddie Flynn, one non-Eddie book on a rolling basis. If I hadn’t been sure I liked Lachie before, his choice in reading matter would have clinched it.

I’ll certainly be putting some more Miranda Dickinson books in my TBR pile!

Usually I love books by this author but unfortunately this fell short for me, not because of the writing per say, but become of the subject matter, as I read a book extremely similar to this a few months ago. Where two apartments across the street from each other start leaving notes in the window.

Unfortunately, I just felt like I have read the book before and actually had to check to see if it was a different title due to all the similarities. It really spoilt my enjoyment of the book as I really lie the character development of Bethan and Bert and Ernie. Had I not read the other book previously I think I would definitely have liked it more.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Expected publication date September 2nd 2021.

I was lucky enough to receive a free copy from Netgalley and the publishers Harper Collins for in response for this honest and unbiased review situated in a fiction category that I would not usually read. However, The Start of Something reeled me in with its slowly-developing romance and sympathetically drawn characters. Bethan and her little boy Noah find themselves living opposite Lachlan, a retired army captain recovering from serious injury who shares his life with a cat and dog. Initially, they communicate via notes in the window, but for how long….? Nicely written and warm and uplifting in tone, I can see this novel garnering plenty of fans.

Review of The Start of Something by Miranda Dickinson

This is the story of Lachlan and Bethan and a note in the window that brings two lonely people together. This is a beautifully written love story about two strangers having the courage to reach out for each other and discovering the consequences. Definatley a must read, five stars

I really enjoyed The Start of Something by Miranda Dickinson. I bought into the story from page 1. I really liked that each character's story was able to be told in chapters specifically about them. It was heart-warming, amusing in places, sad in others and had me rooting for both characters throughout. There wasn't anything I didn't like. I would definitely recommend it to friends and I would definitely read other books by this author.

The book is well written, a bit slow for me at the start, but was a lovely, happy ending. The chapters are written from the view of the two main characters, Bethan and Lachlan. I’m not a fan of books like this, but enjoyed this one. I very much liked reading the two different views, specially nearer to the end of the book. If your looking for a happy, light summer reading this is for you.

I loved the premise of a friendship built on funny little messages shared across a communal space between buildings. I did wonder from the outset how many other people could see the messages from other flats but soon got over that concern that the wrong person might respond!
A gentle, funny romance which blossoms via flowers and notes and relies on shared humour rather than appearances and situations to develop.
You will find yourself rooting for the success of both the relationship and the garden centre!

I loved this sweet romance with a difference. Bethen is a single mum living in a block of flats and working in a failing garden centre.
Lachlan is an injured army officer living in the block opposite.
He puts a notice in his window hoping she will respond. From there starts a friendship with fun. He doesn't want her to know he is now disabled and she doesn't want him to know she has a son.
So the first meeting is through a hole 8n the hedge that separates the two blocks.
I really enjoyed the sweetness with some unusual twists to the tale..

I actually considered ringing in sick to work so I could stay home and read this book! I immediately fell in love with Bethan and Lachie. The characters are so well written you feel like they’re old friends. I constantly found myself wondering how they were getting on during the day. A beautiful story that was just what I needed. I’m recommending this book to all my friends.